Dr James Costello

• Qualifications:BSc(Hons), PGDip Counselling, MSc (Psychotherapy), PhD, CChem, Registered Member MBACP (Accredited), BACP Senior Accredited Supervisor (Groups)
• Position:Senior Lecturer
• Department:College of Health, Science and Society
• Telephone:+441173282490
• Email:James.Costello@uwe.ac.uk
• Social media:

About me

I am a psychotherapist, supervisor, consultant, author, and researcher with a distinctive cross-disciplinary background spanning the psychological and natural sciences. Both a Registered and Accredited member of the British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), I also hold Senior Accreditation as a Specialist in Group Supervision.

I specialise in facilitating reflective spaces and clinical supervision for professionals across a wide range of settings - including NHS mental health services, higher education institutions, third-sector organisations, and high-stakes environments such as Government Inquiries (e.g., Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, UK Covid-19).

Author & Thought Leader

My professional practice and advocacy have culminated in two major works:

Workplace Wellbeing - A Relational Approach  (Routledge, 2020).

Born of years spent resolving workplace conflict and representing members of the University and College Union, this book has been widely acclaimed:

·       “A must for anyone interested in workplace wellbeing.” – Therapy Today.
“A practical guide for managers aiming to embed wellbeing strategically.” – Prof Alex Edmans, London Business School.
“A thorough and critical exploration of humanistic skills in organisational settings.” – Personnel Psychology
“Connects theory, research, and practice through the lens of a relational approach.” – Prof Matthijs Bal, Lincoln International Business School

You can find me in conversation with BACP Workplace,, discussing gaslighting on podcast platforms, or featured on ITV’s Tonight (Series 24, Episode 20).

Philosophical Foundations of Psychotherapy: Radical Relationality (Routledge, 2024).
This second book, grounded in decades of therapeutic, supervisory, and teaching experience, was published as part of Routledge’s Advances in Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology series and was nominated for the 2025 British Psychological Society Book Award.

Professional and Community Engagement

I serve on the editorial panels of multiple journals and publishing houses focused on mental health and the philosophy of psychology. My current research explores consciousness and sleep disturbance, and I am an active member of the British Society for Phenomenology.

As a Parent Governor, I am proud to support the exceptional staff and students of Avanti Gardens School - a community deeply committed to holistic education and wellbeing.

Area of expertise

Some careers are linear, mine has been more of a bridge, connecting the rigour of science with the depth of psychotherapy. Over two decades, I’ve worked where human complexity meets professional care, supporting people across sectors and life experiences.

Clinical, Educational, and Sectoral Experience

For over 20 years, I’ve supported people in one-to-one and group settings across the private, public, and third sectors.

• Private Sector – From shaping holistic mental health start-ups to sustaining a small private practice, I’ve helped individuals and organisations build resilience, wellbeing, and capacity for growth.
• Public Sector – Clinical roles with the Home Office, Cabinet Office, NHS counselling services, and multiple UK universities.
• Third Sector – Specialist therapeutic support for organisations including Bluebell Care (perinatal mental health), the Dementia Care Trust (carer support), and Kinergy (support for survivors of sexual abuse).

Academic and Interdisciplinary Background

My professional journey began in science, completing a PhD under Nobel Laureate Sir J. Fraser Stoddart and contributing to a body of work recognised by the 2016 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Research fellowships at Oxford University and the Leverhulme Trust followed, focusing on medicinal chemistry and toxicology - fields that continue to deepen my fascination with the interplay between mind and body, a theme that ultimately led me into psychotherapy.

Today, I bring that same curiosity and rigour to the study and practice of human change. I have taught and led programmes from Certificate to Doctoral level in psychology and psychotherapy, supervised research at PhD, Prof Doc, MSc, and MRes levels, and held senior leadership roles in both further and higher education. As a University Teaching Fellow, experienced external examiner, and recipient of more than £850,000 in research funding, I continue to integrate scientific precision with therapeutic insight – two disciplines united by a commitment to improving lives.

Publications

Publications loading...