About Dr Jim Byrne, Doctor of Counselling
Background information, education, etc.
Updated on 19th November 2020
Hello,
My name is Jim Byrne. I am in my 22nd year of professional practice as a freelance counsellor/ coach/ psychotherapist. Over that period of time, I have helped more than 1,000 individuals (including many couples) to overcome problems of anger, anxiety, depression, stress, poor self-confidence or self-esteem; couple conflict; communication skills difficulties; childhood trauma problems; and all manner of problems at home and in work.
I have a doctoral degree in counselling (DCoun) from the University of Manchester, UK (2002-2009). A master’s degree in education (MA(Ed)) from the Open University, UK (1991-1994). And a diploma in counselling psychology and psychotherapy (DipCPPsych-Rus) from Rusland College, Bath, UK (2001-2003).
I am an accredited Fellow of the International Society of Professional Counsellors; and a member of Counselling (CCC-Reg).
(I also have two certificates in Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (RE&CBT), from the Albert Ellis Institute, NYC, with the University of Birmingham (November 2005); and the old Institute for REBT, in Bristol, UK (November 1999) – though I no longer practice anything like CBT/REBT.)
Instead, I practice an emotive-cognitive-narrative system of counselling which integrates the best and most useful elements of the fifteen or so systems I have studied, including minor fragments of CBT; combined with lots of Attachment theory, Affect regulation theory, Object relations theory, Personality Adaptations theory, Person-centered counselling, Transactional Analysis, Gestalt therapy, and many others. (My system is called Emotive-Cognitive Embodied Narrative Therapy, or E-CENT counselling for short. What is E-CENT counselling?***) E-CENT counselling also incorporates insights into the body-brain-mind link (including the importance of diet, exercise, sleep, relaxation, and so on). So we deal with the whole client, and not just with their ‘mind’.
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A few weeks ago, I was working with a client over the telephone, and he mentioned in passing that I was the most expensive counsellor he had ever consulted, and he’d consulted a few over the years. I did not think there was anything remarkable about this statement, so I just acknowledged his statement and moved on.
Three hours later, I was still working on the follow-up to his telephone call, when I had this insight: “I think John (not his real name) is confusing ‘cost per session’ and ‘cost per hour of service’.”
So I went back through his file, looking at the work I’d been doing with him; the assessment questionnaires I’d sent to him; the emails about his questionnaire results; the requests for supplementary information; the handouts I’d written as ‘educational follow-up’; the draft agendas I’d produced, and negotiated with him before sessions; and so on. What I found was that I’d spent about 5.5 hours working for John for every hour of telephone conversation, making a total of 6.5 hours for each fee of £150.00, which is equal to £23 per hour. That probably makes me the cheapest – or highest value – counsellor John has ever worked with!
And was he happy with the service he was getting from me? At the back of his file I found this testimonial he’d sent weeks earlier, without any prompting from me:
♣ “Hi Jim. You have already exceeded all my expectations in only two sessions of telephone counselling. And I am extremely grateful for these most generous follow-up notes and handouts, which contain important insights and guidance. You have helped me a lot, and I have much to contemplate and integrate before our next session.”
B.J., Blackburn, Lancs. (Two sessions of telephone counselling for early childhood trauma and current relationship problems).
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During the coronavirus pandemic, I am available via telephone, Skype and email; but not face-to-face. And this situation is likely to continue until June 2021.
To find out more, please go to:
# Information page about telephone, email and Skype counselling***
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# Unsolicited client testimonials.***
I have received a large number of unsolicited client testimonials, hundreds of which can be found by clicking the link above. However, as an ethical practitioner, who wants all of my clients to enter into counselling with me on the basis of fully informed consent, you also need to know that, over the past 21 years, whilst seeing more than 1,000 clients, I’ve had about three or four complaints about swearing. About 15 years ago, I had a Christian client who objected to “all the effing and jeffing”. About three years ago, I had a religious client who objected to some swear words I used. I told both clients that I only ever swear “therapeutically”; and never in a manner which is intended to be hostile towards the client. And a few days ago, a client said he did not like my use of the F-word. There could have been a few others who did not say how they disliked swear words. But now you know. So, if you would find it unacceptable to have a counsellor who might occasionally swear, in what he considers to be a “therapeutic way”, then please do not consult me. A small amount of appropriate swearing is a part of my approach to life!
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Here’s a little video clip which explains some of the latest revisions in this system of counselling and therapy:
I am a Fellow Member of the International Society of Professional Counsellors (FISPC), and a Registered Member of Counselling (CCC.Reg).
I am in my twenty-second year (as at the end of November 2019) as a counsellor in private practice, in Hebden Bridge, and all over the world via the telephone system, Skype-webcam, and by email. During that time, I have helped more than one thousand clients, and some of them have sent me unsolicited testimonials about what they gained from working with me.***
Three sample client testimonials:
♣ To Jim: “…At our previous session, your main intervention had the precision of an acupuncture needle hitting the spot. I felt a great sense of relief from depression and stress immediately. I felt so light and free. Thank you. … See you next week”.
J.K.K., Wakefield, West Yorkshire. (Three sessions of F2F counselling for emotional distress).
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♣ “Dear Jim, I’ve been thinking back over the past year, and I really appreciate the great benefit I got from your guidance of my self-reflection. I have learned so much from you. And I am so much more sorted out than I was. Thank you”.
P.A.N., Crag Vale, Calderdale. (36 sessions of Face 2 face counselling for stress and anxiety, and relationship maladaptation).
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♣ “Hey Jim, … I continue to benefit from the Mind Hut, or Windows Model, at every opportunity when I’m in a bad emotional state, including depressive moments. It takes just half an hour or less and I recover a good emotional state that is also durable. … With appreciation for the work you do, I salute you and I will keep you as a reference point”.
M.V.S., Madrid, Spain (Two email counselling sessions for depression and stress).
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During the coronavirus pandemic, I am available via telephone, Skype and email; but not face-to-face. And this situation is likely to continue until June 2021.
Further information:
# Information page about telephone, email and Skype counselling***
# Unsolicited client testimonials.***
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You can contact me by phone: 01422 843 629 (from inside the UK)
Or 44 1422 843 629 from outside the UK).
Email: drjwbyrne@gmail.com
Back to ABC Coaching and Counselling Services Home Page.***
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I have also researched and written (and/or co-authored) more than twenty books on counselling and self-help related subjects – including anger, anxiety, depression; diet, exercise, sleep; stress and couple relationships – plus some stories – and brief descriptions can be viewed on the homepage of the ABC Bookstore Online UK.***
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