About Jack
I became a therapist because I wanted to put my interest in psychology to practical use. CBT appealed to me for its structure and evidence base, with a clear rationale for what we do and why. I completed an MSc in Psychological Therapies at the University of Edinburgh, where I've continue to conduct research, keeping my practice grounded in what the evidence actually shows.
The people I tend to work well with are thoughtful and often analytical. They want to understand what's going on for them, not just feel better in the short term. That said, I also work with people who aren't sure what they want yet. If you're stuck and want practical help, that's a good enough place to start.
In sessions I'm direct. I'll be honest if something isn't working, and I'll ask you to do things between sessions, because that's where most of the change happens. What I won't do is make you feel judged for where you are right now.
My approach
CBT is structured and practical by design. Rather than spending months exploring the past, we focus on what's keeping the problem going now — the patterns of thinking and behaviour that tend to maintain anxiety, low mood, or avoidance. That gives us something concrete to work with from early on.
Therapy works best as a collaboration. I bring the clinical knowledge and tools; you bring the expertise on your own life. Together we identify what's driving the difficulty and test out new approaches, often through structured tasks or experiments between sessions. The work doesn't stop when you leave the room.
My research background keeps me closely engaged with what the evidence actually shows.
My research background keeps me closely engaged with what the evidence actually shows — including when drawing on related approaches is more helpful than a standard CBT protocol alone. I use ACT, behavioural experiments, and exposure-based work where the evidence and your needs point in that direction. Most courses of therapy run between 8 and 20 sessions, though we'll review as we go.
Training & research
I hold an MSc in Psychological Therapies (CBT pathway) from the University of Edinburgh, one of the UK's leading clinical training programmes for cognitive behavioural approaches.
I am working towards BABCP accreditation and practise under regular clinical supervision from an accredited CBT therapist.
Research
I am currently involved in two ongoing research projects with Edinburgh University, making evidence-based therapy more accessible. I am leading a qualitative investigation into how brief behavioural activation — a core CBT technique for low mood — can be delivered effectively within NHS Scotland services, looking at what helps and what gets in the way of real-world implementation. This project has been ongoing for two years and is now being prepared for publication. I am also assisting a pilot study evaluating whether a single-session CBT-informed intervention can support parents of young children with anxiety, giving families practical tools without requiring a full course of therapy. Both projects reflect the same principle I bring to clinical work: therapy should be structured, practical, and focused on what actually helps.
Who I work well with
I tend to work well with people who are thoughtful, analytical, and motivated — even if they don't feel motivated right now. Many of my clients are students, professionals, or people in demanding roles. But I also work with people who wouldn't describe themselves that way at all — people who are simply stuck and want practical help. If what you've read so far feels like it fits, it probably does.