Therapy & ACT Training in Birmingham – Openforwards
Personalised therapy & professional training to help you feel calmer, stronger & more capable in the face of life’s challenges.
We Help You Feel Better – and Stay That Way
Since 2016, Openforwards has been a five‑star psychology service in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, offering in-person and online therapy alongside supervision and training for professionals. Unlike traditional counselling, we focus on equipping you with practical skills—based in CBT, ACT, Compassion-Focused Therapy, EMDR, and systems approaches—so you can navigate life’s challenges with confidence.
Who We Work With
- Individuals seeking help with anxiety, depression, stress, relationship issues, self-esteem, anger, PTSD, and more
- Parents of children and teens
- Professionals looking for therapist training, ACT supervision, and continuing professional development
Why Openforwards is Different
🏆 Award-winning for the best CBT service in the West Midlands and “most innovative business in psychological healthcare” openforwards.com
🧑🏫 Clinical team led by Jim Lucas, who brings decades of experience and a mission to empower others
🛠 Evidence-based methods delivered in a warm, practical and collaborative environment
🤝 Committed to long-term wellbeing, offering ongoing support until you feel confident and capable
Our Commitment to You
- Collaborative care—we work with you, not at you
- Practical tools—we teach methods that work in daily life
- Transparent support—we’ll stay with you until your goals are met
Meet Jim Lucas
“I’m Jim Lucas, and I live and work in Birmingham, UK. I love helping others build emotional resilience—because I’ve transformed my own life through therapy and ACT.”
Jim has:
- Spoken on BBC Radio and BBC One
- Presented at BABCP, EABCT, ACBS conferences
- Coached and trained 1,000s of therapists in CBT and ACT
Now he leads a team of skilled therapists who share his values and methods.
Media Kit coming soon
Who is Jim Lucas, really?
Here is Jim’s story in his own words.
I’m Jim Lucas, and I live and work in Birmingham, UK.
I am a man in midlife who loves to learn and go on new adventures with fellow travellers.
I love helping people develop as a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and ACT Trainer.
My career started young, so I’ve developed the expertise to help many people.
Using the skills I learned as a therapist, I’ve improved my life significantly (after thinking, “it will never work for me”).
I’ve helped 1000s of people transform their lives (after thinking, “I’ll never be able to help them”).
I’ve taught 1000s of therapists how to effectively do Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (after thinking, “I’ll never be as good as my teachers”).
More recently, I’ve decided to do less therapy and more teaching. I decided to grow my team and give them my trust to care for people who want our help. Our therapists have knowledge, qualifications and skills in evidence-based therapies.
I am delighted to say that we consistently receive positive feedback from our therapy clients and trainees.
Would you like to work with us?
Get in touch
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