QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
BACP Qualified counsellor
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Below are some of the issues I work with and some thoughts on them. These are not intended as a template for treatment but to give a sense of how they might be approached
ANXIETY
A fast and complex world can seem overwhelming and anxiety may often result. Learning to recognise and cope with anxiety can help liberate people from having to avoid situations that provoke anxious thoughts.
OVER THINKING
Recognising that we are more than our thoughts and having the chance to explore persistent ideas can enable people to start to make sense of and move beyond these. Providing traction and movement to unstick from a cycle of thoughts.
RECOVERING FROM DOMESTIC ABUSE
Even once an abusive relationship has finished the effects of that time can continue to impact life. Building an understanding of how a difficult relationship can affect our thoughts and feelings can start to enable recovery and rebuild a healthy sense of self worth.
TRAUMA
Working to build a sense of how events in the past can still affect you today and cause you to react in ways that seem disproportionate to what is going on - a bit like a smoke alarn sounding when the toaster is merely hot. Awareness and practice can help to free your body and your mind from past events.
DEPRESSION
ANGER
Exploring how we protect ourselves from a seemingly hopeless situation by shutting down and considering what is going on can help rekindle ideas on ways forward.
Can sometimes be a cover for other emotions that are harder to handle or acknowledge. Not always the case but sometimes, exploring how and when anger appears can help to anticipate and self regulate more.
SUICIDAL IDEATION
Being in a place where this is seen as one of the few options can be lonely and distressing. Being met in this space without judgement or persuasion to act in a particular way can give the opportunity to assess and re-evaluate which may start to open up other choices.
DISSOCIATION
The brain may protect itself by "leaving the scene of the danger", great at the time but if it continues then there may be a sense of being removed from day to day life maybe experienced as a lack of vitality. Understanding how the past might have impacted and reconnecting with lived experience can help.
TESTIMONIALS
"David made me feel very welcome and safe from our first session to our last. I felt I could really talk to him about my issues with no judgement or embarrassment, I felt like he really listened and understood. I've left with techniques on how to help me in day to day life which I am very grateful for."
"The counsellor was amazing and I can't thank him enough for listening to me even though I wasn't that good at talking about me. Thank you for listening to me."
"I just wanted to say thank you for your help and guidance over the past month, speaking to you really helped me."
"I'm in a really good mental place at the minute and I'm feeling very happy. I appreciate all the time you've spent helping me get back on track. Almost finished my exams and your sessions really helped me to find motivation."