James Neville

Hiya, my name is Jay. ​I am a BACP-registered counsellor and I specialise in offering trauma-informed, affirmative counselling to LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent people.  If you've been looking for someone to support you in making sense of being you, I might be your person.  I have gained 2000+ hours of clinical experience working almost exclusively with LGBTQ+ and/or neurodivergent people within the NHS and through LGBTQ+ charities.

This experience has taught me that every human being has the potential for growth and healing, no matter what. With the space, commitment and compassion to accept who we truly are, life can begin to look and feel more hopeful, meaningful and understandable.  

If you are neurodivergent (autism, ADHD, dyslexia +), trans, non-binary or have a non-normative gender experience (or have questions about your own relationship to these things) I can offer you a safe and open space to explore these things, or for it just to be a part of who you are.

I work online, over the telephone and face-to-face in South Manchester.

My Philosophy

I see counselling as a sort of partnership - I love to be alongside individuals, empowering them to trust themselves more, live with integrity, and align themselves with their purpose.

We might talk about a life event, a difficult history, family or identity challenges, or a habit that's holding you back.

Whatever brings you to counselling, with the space, commitment and compassion to accept who we truly are, life can begin to look and feel more hopeful, meaningful and understandable.

About me

I've had 8+ years of therapy myself as a client and it's been a transformational journey, so I truly believe in the power of counselling and the good it can do. I also know how hard and weird it can feel at times. 

I've worked in NHS services for 4 years, in the charity sector for 7 years and in LGBTQ+ affirming services since day 1 of my counselling training.

I feel that my lived experience as a trans, autistic person informs my ability to empathise with human suffering, transformation and a universal need for hope and self actualisation.

We'll have a quick call as a first point of contact to get to know each other a little and see how we feel together.  I'll ask you a bit about what you'd like to work on together and give you some space to tell me about what feels important to you.

If we feel comfortable together, from there we can figure out some specifics about what's going to work practically, and find a convenient place for our session to take place.