About Jacob

Jacob is a highly qualified counselling psychologist who offers short and long-term therapy, with appointments available on Mondays and Saturdays (daytime and evenings). He has a warm, supportive and empathetic approach, and helps people of all backgrounds with a wide range of issues. He offers short and long-term therapy for help with various difficulties.

A common misconception about talking therapy is that it is only for the ‘unwell’ or those with severe mental health issues; Jacob firmly believes, however, that therapy can offer significant benefits for all of us – as a way of increasing well-being, overcoming challenges, and helping us to understand ourselves better.

Jacob provides his clients with the space in which personal growth can occur, by helping them to work through difficulties and achieve greater insight and self-acceptance.

Some of the issues he works with include:

- Adolescent therapy (13 years and above)

- Anger management

- Anxiety

- Bereavement

- Depression

- Insomnia/disturbed sleep

- Loneliness

- Loss

- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

- Panic attacks

- Phobias

- Problems at work or school

- Relationship issues

- Search for meaning

- Self-esteem

- Stress

- Substance misuse and dependency

- Trauma

Jacob is trained to work in a number of approaches, and finds that the best results tend to come from integrating these approaches to tailor the work to suit clients' individual needs. 

The person-centred approach establishes a safe, non-judgemental environment which encourages the expression of emotions. 

Psychodynamic psychotherapy focuses on our past and present experiences in relationships, and how these have shaped our relational style and our beliefs about ourselves. 

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a solution-focused approach that examines how our thoughts and beliefs influence our emotions and behaviour, and seeks to challenge some of our ingrained patterns of thought and behaviour by testing out new ways of being.

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) is a very effective way of treating trauma, and I have extensive experience helping clients to reduce distress relating to both single event and complex trauma.

In addition to these main approaches, Jacob also incorporates mindfulness-based techniques for the treatment of anxiety and depression, and as a way of helping clients to live more in the present moment and develop a kinder relationship with themselves.

Training, qualifications & experience

Having studied English at the University of Oxford, Jacob worked for some years as a teacher and editor before retraining as a psychologist at the University of Sussex, where he completed the MSc in Experimental Psychology. He subsequently undertook a professional doctorate in Psychotherapeutic and Counselling Psychology at the University of Surrey, where his main research focus was on mindfulness and the therapeutic relationship.

As a registered psychologist, he is committed to the codes of ethics laid out by the HCPC, and adheres to their professional standards and practices. He has several years’ experience in NHS and non-NHS settings, working with a diverse client group and a wide range of presentations.

Member organisations

 Registered / Accredited

Areas of counselling Jacob specialises in:

• Abortion

• Abuse

• Addiction(s)

• ADHD

• Affairs and betrayals

• Anger management

• Anxiety

• Asperger's syndrome

• Attachment disorder

• Bereavement

• Bipolar disorder

• Body dysmorphic disorder

• Bullying

• Cancer

• Career counselling

• Carer support

• Chronic fatigue syndrome/ME

• Depression

• Disabilities

• Dissociation

• Domestic violence

• Emotional abuse

• Family issues

• Feeling sad

• Gender dysphoria

• Generalised anxiety disorder

• Hearing voices

• HIV/AIDS

• Hoarding

• Infertility

• LGBTQ+ counselling

• Low self-confidence

• Low self-esteem

• Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Panic attacks

• Passive aggressive behaviour

• Personality disorders

• Phobias

• Physical abuse

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Postnatal depression

• Psychosis

• Redundancy

• Relationship problems

• Schizophrenia

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

• Self-harm

• Separation and divorce

• Sex problems

• Sexual abuse

• Spirituality

• Stress

• Suicidal thoughts

• Trauma

• Work-related stress

Therapies offered

• Behavioural therapy

• Cognitive therapy

• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)

• Eye movement and desensitisation reprocessing (EMDR)

• Psychodynamic therapy

• Person-centred therapy

• Integrative

• Mindfulness

• Solution focused brief therapy

Concessions offered for

- Trainee counsellors

EAP/Health Insurance Providers

- Aviva

- AXA PPP

- BUPA