David O'Hara

I worked in business for over a decade before training as a counsellor, which gave me a feel for the pressures of professional life and the gap between how things look from the outside and how they feel on the inside. In sessions, I try to be curious, grounded, and present. I especially enjoy when the psychological theory, the client's story, and what's happening in the room all come together. I work from a person-centred approach, and outside private practice I train and mentor facilitators with Mentell, a charity running peer support circles. This keeps me close to the struggles men carry.

Many of the men I work with have spent a long time managing on their own before reaching out. Some arrive with a specific difficulty in mind. Others just want space to think honestly about what's going on, with someone outside their work, family, and friendships. Often people come to therapy looking for tools and techniques, and sometimes that's a useful place to start. Over time, the work often turns to what's driving those pressures underneath, and to a more balanced relationship with the expectations you place on yourself. We will explore together and move at a pace that suits you.

We start with a free 15-minute call. It's a chance for you to tell me what's brought you to counselling, ask any questions, and get a feel for whether we're a good fit. It's a conversation, not an assessment, and there's no pressure to commit.