About James

It was always my nature to wonder why people did what they did.
This led to wanting to learn how they could behave differently and have a better life.

I qualified as apsychiatric nurse in 1998. After a few years in general psychiatric nursing I decided to work in a residential adictiion centre.

While working there I had more freedom to learn effective therapeutic comunication.
I enjoyed this and began to see this was why I went into nursing in the first place

it was a natural progression for me to move to counselling training from there.

After the leaving I did a marketing diploma.
This was followed by a Professional qualification in advertising.
I enjoyed the psychological aspect of business but it really wasn’t for me.

After a period of trying care work I went on to do psychiatric nurse training. I eventually got my nursing degree in 2001.
By 2009 I decided to do postgraduate training in counselling.

I have continued to do continuing professional development in therapy, including some at masters level.

My first work in thereapeutic care was with an elderly daycare service.
The work that led to me doing psychiatric nursing, was being a care assistant in a long term psychiatric hostel
.
After nursing qualification in 1998 I worked as a psychiatric nurse in two Dublin hospitals.
That was followed by nearly 12 years workin in a residential drug detox centre.

After that I was full time at home with my two sons for a while.
I had also started doing my counselling training by then.
For a few years I did counselling work alongside nursing agency shifts.

I started working full time in counselling from 2021.
I have worked over 2 years with Pieta.

I grew up on a farm just outside of Carlow town.
I am the youngest of 10 children.
Though I grew up on a farm I was more interested in working with people than animals or machinery.

I have always had an interest in trying to understand God.
Throughout my life I have been involved with churches as part of living the Christian faith.

I have been married since 2000.
I have two sons, born in 2005 and 2008.

Between nursing and now counselling, I have worked in therapeutic care since 1994.
It has always been a case of one step leads to another.

After cancer treatment in 2020, I decided to go full time into counselling work.

Since then I have done work with Pieta, EAP, a counselling service in Bray and self employed with Prevail.
I look forward to what the next steps maybe.

Ultimitley I have stayed in psycho-therapeutic work because I enjoy it.
I do enjoy working with people and improving myself in the process.

It is my daily aspiration to spend time with family, preferably together over a meal.

I try to practice the Christian faith as best as I know how, and attend a local church as part of that.

I grew up loving Star Wars, but now …?

I am a lifelong learner with photography and gardening.

I enjoy walks in Corkagh, my local park.

Some day I hope to have a big dog, whenIi have time for him.

I hope to learn piano some day, but till then I enjoy listening to my wife play.

I unfortunitley like fried food a bit too much.