Jay Cotton

Background

About Jay Cotton

I am a BACP-registered Integrative Psychotherapist currently employed as a Wellbeing Officer at De Montfort University (DMU), a position I have held since 2023. My role involves providing therapeutic support to students presenting with a wide range of psychological and emotional difficulties, often within the context of academic pressures and transitional life changes. Clinically, my approach integrates Person-Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Attachment-Based Therapy. This allows me to understand the complexities of the individual’s narrative and difficulties through an integrated lens, with particular attention to relational dynamics, personal values, and the impact of early experiences on identity formation and development. My practice is informed by a strong foundation in the third sector, where I provided specialist support to individuals affected by self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders. This experience has deepened my understanding of risk, crisis intervention, and trauma-informed care that I have employed in assisting with various risk assessment and policy updates within the Wellbeing & Counselling Teams. I maintain a strong interest in the mental health challenges facing our student populations, with a focus on early intervention, resilience-building, and the promotion of psychological wellbeing within academic environments. Alongside my primary role, I assist in the promotion of mental health and wellbeing resources and guidance over various social media platforms (X, Tiktok, Instragram) for the university’s wellbeing handle of HealthyDMU. I also supervise internships in the Wellbeing Team in researching and creating mental health and wellbeing content accessible to the diversity of our student population. Additionally, I am also involved in the LGBTQ+ Staff Network and co-lead on events during DMU Pride in February, such as the DMU Pride Launch event. As a Queer Psychotherapist, I take pride in being able to provide a compassionate and non-judgmental space for the LGBTQ+ community, having shared their history and being personally aware of the pressures and challenges faced presently and historically. Prior to my time as an integrative psychotherapist, I worked as an experienced practitioner and clinician who has training in delivering group-based interventions, underpinned by CBT theory, to individuals convicted of criminal activities and intent for varying offences (domestic violence, theft, robbery, burglary, assault, manslaughter, murder, etc.) to reduce the likelihood of recidivism.