Chacko (James) Vadayil Varkey, PACFA
12 years in practice
Chacko (James) Vadayil Varkey uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside other approaches to help people make sense of strong feelings and patterns that affect their relationships.
License and registration
- PACFA
- 23563 · expires June 2026
- Years in practice
- 12
- Languages
- English, Hindi, Malayalam
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the registration with the body that granted it.
About Chacko
Chacko (James) Vadayil Varkey uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside other approaches to help people make sense of strong feelings and patterns that affect their relationships. He is a PACFA clinical psychotherapist with 12 years of experience. He aims to create an open, respectful space so people can talk about what matters most to them.
James draws on a mix of counselling, psychology, theology and family law in his work. That background helps when people bring complex issues such as trauma, grief, identity concerns or relationship strains.
Background and approach
He uses clear language and practical ideas rather than jargon so conversations stay useful and grounded. Clients come for help with stress, anxiety and depression, as well as trauma and abuse. He also works with concerns linked to attachment, communication, codependency, abandonment, adoption and blended family dynamics.
James adapts his approach to each person rather than applying one fixed method. Sessions may include talking through emotional patterns, learning skills to manage distress, and trying new ways of relating to others. He draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy when they fit the client’s goals.
The emphasis is on small, practical steps people can use between sessions. James offers sessions in English, Hindi and Malayalam. He provides therapy by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging, and uses a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a session.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Chacko lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Hearing impaired
- HIV / AIDS
- Hoarding
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Young adult issues
Approaches Chacko names
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Gottman Method
- Imago Relationship Therapy
- Jungian Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
Approach-driven care delivered online
Emotionally-Focused Therapy helps people understand and shift painful emotional patterns in relationships. It focuses on identifying core emotions, naming them and using that awareness to change how people connect with others. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages people to clarify what matters to them and take practical steps toward those values while accepting difficult feelings along the way.Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship experiences shape current responses to closeness and conflict. It can be useful for people who notice repeating patterns in how they relate or who struggle with trust and connection. James draws on these approaches to tailor sessions around the issues each person brings rather than relying on one fixed method.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as therapy progresses.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs. Video calls let people use facial cues and body language, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, and messaging can support quick check-ins or ongoing reflection. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, family and daily life.
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Questions people ask
What issues does this therapist focus on?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, family-related concerns, trauma and abuse. Additional areas include attachment issues, communication problems, abandonment and adoption-related concerns.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He blends Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centred approaches. The style is direct, practical and focused on understanding emotions and changing unhelpful patterns.
How much experience does he have?
He has 12 years of professional experience working across counselling, psychology, theology and family law contexts. That range informs his work with complex emotional and relational issues.
What credentials and location are listed?
He is a PACFA clinical psychotherapist based in Australia. The profile notes PACFA as his credential.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English, Hindi and Malayalam.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different preferences and schedules.
How does costing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions are arranged through a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I get started with therapy?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
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