David Seddon

I specialise in working with relationship issues, anger, depression, anxiety and bereavement. I have a good track record for helping people improve relationships, change behaviours and reach a happier and better life. I'm a warm, supportive listener who is committed and passionate about assisting people to work through their problems so that they can reach greater peace of mind, and I'm particularly interested in helping people find meaning in their lives.  I have 10 years experience of humanistic and existential counselling, have worked for BUPA and internationally via Skype.
Please see the testimonials below, to show my success with helping people to overcome various issues.

I have a great deal of experience working with self-esteem, Generalised Anxiety Disorder, career issues, narcissism and those affected by narcissistic abuse, verbal and emotional abuse, stress and other problems and have appeared on Radio Stoke to discuss issues such as the Midlife Crisis.

Please also take a look at some of the articles I have written about different issues - you can find them at the bottom of this page, just above the map.  One of the articles gives you a flavour of what counselling is like and how long it lasts for: Demystifying Therapy.

If something is missing in your life or is proving problematic, you do not need to carry on suffering alone in silence – I can help.

After counselling, many of my clients say that they have discovered who they really are and feel much comfortable about life.  This is because it often removes the obstacles which were holding them back so that they could begin to make sense of their life.

So that I can best fit your needs, I offer both short and long term counselling - not only face-to-face but via Skype, telephone and email too.  If you live some distance away from me but would like to work with me and see how it goes, these last three options can prove useful - at any one time I am usually working with several clients this way.

Some Comments from My Clients:

"I strongly recommend David. He immediately put me at ease when I have had very bad self-esteem issues for as long as I can remember. He is very calm and empathic and used quite a few techniques to help me. Actually, he ended up not only helping me but also my partner as he has seen the benefits of my increased confidence and peace of mind in our relationship. I now feel in control of my own life. Thanks David!" (female client)

"I looked at David’s details here and thought for a while about coming.  I’m glad that I did.  I had been in a pretty bad way since the death of my wife and I needed some support but just wasn’t sure whether I was ready to be helped.  I knew that I was as soon as I arrived. Throughout the sessions I came to realise that there were quite a few issues in my life which I had not been looking at and this had actually made me start to devalue myself.  I did wonder what the point of it all was, but David reminded me about the good things and joyous moments I do have in life and enabled me to work through the pain of my loss.   I feel great acceptance now and heartily recommend David’s services." (male client)

"David helped me to change my life around in about ten sessions.  I was feeling that life was without hope and at times I was so depressed that I hated myself and didn’t much want to go on.  David is very accepting, caring and perceptive and he put me at ease and then helped me to build up my confidence.  I didn’t really know why I was like I was, but David has this way of getting straight to the heart of problems. I’d never have believed that I could change, but I did it with his guidance. It feels a bit like a transformation now and I don’t think I’ve ever spent money in a better way than in going to see him.  I actually feel bright about the future.” (male client)

"My husband was a bit sceptical about us going to counselling because he thought we could sort things out on our own, but we’d been struggling with things on our own for a long time as it was and I’d had enough of that.  Our problems were mainly down to communication issues and we’d stopped valuing each other’s individual slant on things.  I admit I’d stopped being tolerant of him.  He felt himself nagged so withdrew.  We had no fun anymore and intimacy was rare and unsatisfactory.  David got us talking and more importantly listening again.  He helped us unravel a few things that seemed pretty tangled and gave us renewed hope.  We’ve pulled our marriage round now and I want to thank him for his hard work helping us with that." (couple)

"I have felt depressed on and off for many years.  David helped me to get behind this and explore what was going on in my life - mainly anger and feelings of guilt.  I feel in a better place to handle things from now on." (female client)

"After several years together, we had lost sight of our relationship and were struggling to communicate honestly.  With David's help, we were able to confront issues which we had been avoiding in a safe, non-judgemental environment, giving each of the opportunity to be heard and acknowledged.  We now feel closer as a result and positive about our future together." (couple)

"I started counselling sessions with David at a time when I had walked out on a long marriage and this had been followed by a relationship that turned sour.  Talking to a complete stranger was easy.  I was able to discuss anything I wanted without being judged. Through talking things through I was able to come to terms with my dysfunctional upbringing, lack of confidence, and fear of being alone.  In three months I have turned my life around.  I feel very positive about the future." (female client)

"You listened to me very deeply and I always felt that you were with me when I told you my problems." (male client)

"We had stopped listening to and communicating with each other.  Our relationship had come to a bad place and David helped us to remember why we fell in love with each other.  After we had cleared the air, we started to appreciate each other again and remembered how to have some fun." (couple)

"David has enabled me to think about and analyse past issues and understand and accept them.  I feel more positive about moving on with my life today."  (male client)

"I came to talk about a narcissistic parent and David really helped me with how to deal with this as he has good knowledege of this area." (female client)

"I had lots to deal with and you worked it through gently with me." (female client)

"I have suffered from angry outbursts all of my life.  David helped me to work through the reasons for this, to accept myself and others and to start to change it." (male client)

"I had tried counselling before, but it didn't completely work for me or help me to solve my problems. Some recent session of CBT only seemed to scratch the surface and gave just short-term relief, but David's approach really got down to the deep issue I had - which turned out to be a sense that my life was meaningless and empty. David helped me find some meaning and optimism and I would recommend him to anyone." (female client)

"I found you to be a very astute listener and a helpful facilitator of ideas. It's really good to find a counsellor who can counsel men so thoughtfully and understands their problems." (male client)

"Our relationship has gone through a very sticky patch and we weren't sure whether we wanted to split up or not.  We decided to come and work with David to see whether there was a way we could get back on track and start having some fun again together.  Things had got very closed off between us and David helped us to look at that and start to work through it.  We now feel much closer and open and feel brighter about being together." (couple)

"I wanted to see a male counsellor and get his slant on things.  David has a very empathic and warm way about him and this was exactly what I needed." (female client)

"David is very thoughtful and philosophical.  I really enjoyed that because it's very easy to go through life without considering things more deeply." (male client)

"When I lost my partner, I felt a huge mix of feelings which I was finding very hard to process and deal with.  David helped me through my bereavement and was always a gentle and strong presence at a difficult time." (female client)

Why Counselling

I understand that it can be hard to decide to come to counselling for the first time, although perhaps you may have been considering it for quite a while. Maybe you feel that you need some support and someone to offer an impartial ear but are anxious about making the phone call or sending the email which means that you have to talk to another person about it. Most of us, perhaps particularly men, have been conditioned to think that we should be able to cope on our own and that asking for help shows a lack of strength. It can be good to offer yourself the kindness of time and space to start building a better life. 

The benefits of good things that happen inside us and which we cannot show or physically touch are much deeper than the value of things we can see and touch - such as objects we can buy in the shops.  Ironically we often take much less care over our own well-being than we do over possessions even though we know that it is our emotional and mental processes that truly make us happy and not the possessions.  In that light, many clients tell me that coming to counselling was the most positive way they've ever spent money.

About Me and My Counselling

I work in the West Heath area of Congleton and I offer long or short-term face-to-face therapy for individuals and couples as well as telephone and skype counselling. My Practice offers a calming environment - a safe, peaceful, consistent, quiet and confidential place, which will allow you to explore your thoughts and feelings and work towards a feeling of wholeness. It is easy to park nearby and there are bus routes at the bottom of the road.

I am person-centred, which means that you can talk about your life without fear of being either judged or told what to do, though I will help you to make decisions and understand your inner processes.  My goal as a therapist is to help you live a happier, more meaningful, peaceful and stress-free life whilst realising your potential.

I also use existential counselling, which sounds complicated but isn't - it just means  “exploring and embracing what it is to be human.”  It involves looking at the philosophy of living better and working with the universal human issues and feelings of loss, isolation, freedom vs responsibility and finding meaning. 

I offer narrative therapy and work with dreams, poetry, art, mindfulness and breathing should you so wish. I have an MA in Humanistic Counselling and will work collaboratively with you to find the right therapeutic approach which will most facilitate your healing process - for instance I may use TA or Gestalt techniques when they suit.

I recently attended the Suicide Bereavement Conference and am ready to offer support to those affected by the suicide of someone close.

Couples Counselling

Perhaps you want to move forwards in your relationship or are having problems and cannot resolve them; perhaps there has been a crisis in your relationship or maybe you are questioning why you are still together.  Coming to couples counselling can have many advantages, and whilst there are no easy answers, I can help you on in a number of areas:

• If you are finding it hard to communicate to each other without arguing, you will find that counselling will open up the channels so that you can do this.  I have many techniques for helping you to communicate better with each other. One key thing is to really listen to each other – this function can become all but broken in a problematic relationship, but my couples clients tell me that I help them greatly with that.  Listening to each other can mean: “seek first to understand, then to be understood”.
• Counselling can help to encourage acceptance. None of us are perfect and saints are thin on the ground. I have yet to meet one, though I live in hope. The only person in your partnership that you can change is you – but this applies to both of you! With help, we can learn to accept our partner’s edges.
• Couples will argue.  Even the best of them.  Counselling can help you formulate some rules about how to do this more productively and with greater respect for the other.
• If your tolerance, compassion and understanding for each other has dwindled from what it once was, exploring things in counselling can help you to re-find it.
• If there are Conflicts which are drawing you apart, counselling may help to open them up and resolve them, bringing you closer together again.
• Intimacy, sex and communication are closely linked and vital in a healthy relationship.  If one suffers, they all tend to suffer, but by helping to sort one of those out we can also work on the others at the same time.
• Counselling can help you to reaffirm a commitment to each other and find a shared meaning, purpose, and vision for your life and your relationship.
• Playfulness.  “Couples who play together, stay together.”  Couples who are struggling have invariably lost the fun in their relationship.  I can help you think about and work on that.
• Trust and respect are like two pillars that hold up love.  If they are suffering in your relationship then it may require some deep discussion which is much more easily processed in counselling than on your own - the discussion can heal and move things on.

Other Information

I was also a teacher for twenty years and became a counsellor when I realised that I wanted to help people on a more individual basis than teaching allowed for.

I have worked with all the issues you can see below; and with adults, couples and young people.

I am also a published poet with well over a hundred poems in print in various magazines and Anthologies.

I am a fully accredited and registered member of the BACP and abide by its ethical framework and am fully ensured and CAB checked.

I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office and take great care with confidential information, fully abiding by General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

I work flexibly - offering daytime and evening appointments and occasionally weekend ones by agreement.

Why not take advantage of my 6 for 5 offer which reduces the cost of each session to £50.  Couples sessions work out at £67 a session with this offer. It is up to you how many sessions you'd like to come for, but six is often a good starting point.

My practise has easy access from: Alderley Edge, Alsager, Bramhall, Biddulph, Congleton, Crewe, Holmes Chapel, Kidsgrove, Knutsford, Leek, Macclesfield, Middlewich, Nantwich, Northwich,  Prestbury, Sandbach, Stoke-on-Trent, Wilmslow and Winsford.

I have seen many clients from Staffordshire and North West Derbyshire, too.

You can find my Blog at: http://davidseddon.blogspot.com/

I am on Twitter as Contented Counsellor at: https://twitter.com/#!/SeddonDavid

I am on Facebook as: https://www.facebook.com/EastCheshireCounselling

Introductory Session

I offer a free 20 minute face-to-face or phone consultation so you can decide if you would like to work with me.

Individuals - single and multiple session rates

Single Session = £60 (first session £35)
Pay for five sessions and get the sixth free = £300
(this means that sessions are only £50 each)

Couples

Single session = £80
Pay for five sessions and get the sixth free

Reduced fees and Students

Ideally, counselling should be available for everyone – unfortunately it's not always easy to get to see a counsellor via your GP.  I seek to ensure that no one is denied access to counselling on financial grounds, therefore my rates are negotiable, depending on your circumstances. I offer some concessions to those who can afford less. Please ask me for details and availability.

Special rates are available for students, please ask.

Skype Video counselling available

Telephone counselling available

Email Counselling available

Home visits negotiable

Disabled access available during the daytime

Fully insured