Daniel McCaffrey

Hi. My name is Dan. Most of us seem to spend lots of our time thinking (or maybe worrying?) about our past, or envisioning our future. The difficult truth however is that in actuality the only genuine experience of life we can have is here, now, in the present moment. When we talk about our thoughts and feelings, our relationship to them changes. It's not magic. My role is simply to listen to you with compassion, without judgement, and perhaps help you to hear yourself differently, in the “safe space” of a confidential and (when it works) unique relationship. You are and can only ever possibly be the greatest expert on you.

I have been trained in a large variety of methodologies, and always try and match my approach with what suits you best; How you work, and what you want to get out of Counselling. Be advised that I am NOT in the business of telling you what to do! I believe that you have the capacity within yourself for change and healing and it’s my job to simply help.

I work with clients from all walks of life on a variety of issues they have identified as being problematic. No issue is too small to cause you problems; often something as seemingly trivial as changing jobs or reaching a certain age can be problematic, and obviously, COVID has changed all of our lives in different ways. Counselling can help-Reach out for a FREE 30-minute chat to see if we can work together, with no obligations.

As someone who has personally experienced adult-onset Hearing Loss and a Neurological condition, I feel like I have some insight into the mental health implications of illness and disability and hope I can be of positive benefit to those who have undergone or are undergoing similar experiences.  

I believe that, especially at the moment, professional support for mental well-being should not just be available to those who can afford it, but to anyone who feels like they need it. To that end, whilst my standard rate is £30 per hour, this is negotiable depending on your circumstances; Please get in touch to talk about this (I will not ask for confidential or private financial information).  

I also offer potential clients a free 30-minute session so you can see whether or not you feel our time together will be helpful to you. You can book this via the "Book Intro Call" button at the top of the page.  

I work online in order to keep costs down and improve accessibility of the service, via video call at your convenience or over the phone.

“Change is the only constant in life”, Heraclitus, 80 BC

Most of us (myself included) seem to spend much of our time thinking (or perhaps more accurately worrying) about our past, or envisioning our futures. The difficult truth however is that in actuality the only genuine experience of life we can have is here, now, in the present moment. When we talk about our thoughts, our relationship to them changes. At best, we can come to see that however bad things may appear, our thoughts do not define us, and that by reflecting on our relationship with them, we might begin to see our relationship with the outside world very differently.

Change can be scary but it is also inevitable. Reconciling ourselves to this fundamental reality, and accepting that often what constitutes the perceived “truths” about ourselves and others are not specific events or situations themselves but our feelings about them, is immensely liberating. This, for me, is the function of counselling. You are and can only possibly ever be the greatest expert on you. My role is simply to listen with compassion and (as far as possible) without judgement and perhaps help you to hear yourself differently, in the “safe space” of a confidential and (when it works) unique relationship.

“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change”, Carl Rogers, 1951

I know how it feels to come into Counselling. As someone who has experienced Anxiety and Depression in the wake of a serious adult-onset disability, I appreciate how difficult it can be to both accept that help is needed, and then have the courage to take the step and start discussing thoughts and feelings relating to private aspects of your life with a complete stranger. I have a background in teaching and education, and over the course of my training, I have worked with young people in a variety of schools, with students of all age ranges in College and Universities, and with adults in other settings.

My approach is to be led by you in terms of what you want to discuss, and how you want to discuss it. I have been trained in a large variety of methodologies, but be advised that I am NOT in the business of telling you what to do! I believe, as stated previously, that you have the capacity within yourself for change and healing and it’s my job as I see it to facilitate that process, not to give you easy answers, because new solutions and perspectives will always have to come from you to work.

“Nobody can stand truth if it is told to him. Truth can be tolerated only if you discover it yourself because then, the pride of discovery makes the truth palatable”, Fritz Perls, 1951

I believe that, especially at the moment, this kind of support should not just be available to those who can afford it, but to anyone who feels like they need it. To that end, whilst my standard rate is £30 per hour, this is negotiable depending on your circumstances; Please get in touch to talk about this (I will not ask for confidential or private financial information).

I also believe that however well trained a therapist may be, there is a unique “chemistry” within a relationship that is not premised on qualifications and skills, but is simply to do with how particular individuals “connect”. To this end, I also offer potential clients a free 30 minute session so you can see whether or not you feel our time together will be helpful to you.

In order to keep my charges to a minimum, I work with clients exclusively online or on the phone. My experience of using this medium since COVID  is once you get used to it, there is a degree of comfort and familiarity inherent in “broadcasting” from your own space that can significantly enhance the process. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any further questions or would like more information on any aspect of my service.

“Reality is not so much what happens to us; rather, it is how we think about those events that create the reality we experience. In a very real sense, this means that we each create the reality in which we live”, Albert Ellis, 1965