About Jason
A little about me
I’m Jason, a qualified person-centred counsellor offering face-to-face counselling in Castleford and online counselling across the UK.
Before qualifying as a counsellor, I spent several years working in mental health support. That experience gave me the opportunity to work alongside people dealing with many different kinds of difficulty: anxiety, low mood, loneliness, major life changes, relationship problems, feeling overwhelmed, and sometimes simply the sense that something in life isn’t quite right.
Over time, I became increasingly interested in having the space to understand what is happening for people more deeply. Counselling offered a different kind of relationship, where there does not always need to be a goal to complete, a problem to solve or an answer to find.
That is a large part of what drew me to becoming a counsellor.
What I’m like as a counsellor
My approach is person-centred, which means I don't assume that I know what is best for you.
You bring your own history, relationships, identity, values and way of making sense of the world. My job is to understand that world as closely as I can and to create a relationship in which you can explore it without being judged, rushed or pushed towards somebody else's idea of what you should do.
That doesn't mean I simply sit silently while you talk, I’m engaged and interested in what you bring. I will respond, reflect things I notice, ask questions when they seem useful and sometimes help us slow down around something that feels important. I might notice connections between different things you have said, or help you stay with feelings that are difficult to put into words.
There may be humour too. Counselling can involve painful and serious conversations, but it does not have to feel solemn all of the time. You also don't need to arrive knowing exactly what you want from counselling. Sometimes the work begins with little more than a feeling of “I know something isn't right, but I'm not really sure what it is.” That is enough to start with.
The kinds of conversations I particularly value
I’m especially interested in the parts of people's lives that can be difficult to explain neatly. That might include feeling lonely while also wanting to withdraw from other people; knowing that something needs to change while feeling unable or unwilling to change it; feeling ashamed of something that makes complete sense once its history is understood; or having contradictory feelings that don't fit into a simple answer.
I have particular interests in LGBTQ+ wellbeing, the experiences of gay men, hoarding-related difficulties, loneliness, grief and bereavement, anxiety, and the experience of feeling stuck. These are areas I care about, rather than a list of people I exclusively work with. My practice is open to adults with a wide range of reasons for seeking counselling.
LGBTQ+ affirmative counselling
As a gay man myself, LGBTQ+ affirmative practice is particularly important to me. You may want to talk directly about sexuality, identity, relationships, coming out, shame, discrimination, sex, dating or belonging. Or you may want to talk about something completely unrelated to being LGBTQ+. My aim is that you shouldn't have to spend the first part of counselling explaining the basics of LGBTQ+ experience before we can get to the thing you actually want to talk about.
My interest in hoarding
I also have a particular professional interest in hoarding-related difficulties. Hoarding is often misunderstood as being primarily about clutter or organisation. In reality, people's relationships with possessions can be connected with attachment, identity, memory, loss, safety, decision-making, shame and many other experiences. I take a non-shaming and person-centred approach. I am not interested in forcing change or deciding what somebody should get rid of. I am much more interested in understanding what is happening for the person and what change (if they want it) might realistically and safely look like.
My qualifications and professional background
My professional background combines counselling training, psychology and several years of experience working in adult mental health.
My qualifications include:
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
MSc Psychology
Level 4 Diploma in Addiction Counselling
Level 3 Diploma in Grief & Bereavement Counselling
Training and continuing professional development across a range of areas relevant to counselling and mental health
I am an Individual Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and work within its ethical framework.
Like other practising counsellors, I also undertake regular professional supervision. This provides a confidential space for me to reflect on my work and helps ensure that I continue to practise safely and ethically.
What you can expect from me
You can expect me to take you seriously without treating you as fragile.
I won't diagnose you, lecture you or try to persuade you to become a particular version of yourself. I also won't expect you to make progress according to a timetable.
What I will try to offer is consistency, curiosity and a relationship in which you can say things that may be difficult to say elsewhere.
There is no fixed number of sessions. We can work together for a shorter period or more openly over time, depending on what you need and whether the work continues to feel useful.
Seeing whether we might work well together
Finding the right counsellor matters. Qualifications and approach are important, but so is the less tangible question of whether you feel able to talk to the person sitting opposite you, which is why I offer a free 20-minute introductory telephone call.
You don't need to prepare anything or tell me your whole story. It is simply an opportunity for us to talk briefly about what has brought you to counselling, for you to ask questions, and for us both to get a sense of whether working together might feel right.
Online counselling: £35 per 50-minute session
Face-to-face counselling in Castleford: £45 per 50-minute session
Evening online appointments are available, including some later appointments.
Book a free 20-minute introductory call
If booking a call feels like too much of a first step, you are also welcome to send me a message instead using the contact form below.
Get in touch
If you’re considering counselling, you can book a free 20-minute introductory call or send me a message using the form.
You don’t need to prepare anything or tell me your whole story. We can talk briefly about what you’re looking for, answer your questions and see how it feels to speak together. There’s no obligation to book a counselling session afterwards.