David Bell


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This professional is available for new clients.
This professional is available for new clients.
About me
Hi, I'm David
Skilled and experienced in working with a wide range of issues I qualified as a therapeutic counsellor in 2002, being awarded the CPCAB Diploma in Person Centred / Integrative Counselling.
I provide a warm and accepting space where you can feel safe to explore any issues in your life without fear of judgement. I firmly believe that the quality of the relationship between client and counsellor is not only paramount in the counselling room, but vital for the client to feel safe enough to begin taking the first tentative steps towards change, and moving forward with his or her life. For this reason I offer the first introductory session free of charge, to offer you the opportunity to discover if I am the counsellor for you.
I have been kindly described by clients as being 'real', being down to earth, and as someone who 'gets it', and though I do not have all of the answers I strive to help people to find theirs.
I acquired over 20 years of experience working with local Addiction and various support Services in Derbyshire and within Community Mental Health. In 2021 I resigned from local Alcohol Services as I felt that due to sweeping changes and cuts I could no longer remain 'true to self' while continuing to be an effective and efficient counsellor.
This has allowed me to further build up my private practice, established in 2018, where I can be more creative, spontaneous and more efficient in my work, without the usual constraints that Services insist upon
I have provided counselling support to two local 'Lighthouse' supported living establishments in Derbyshire, and also work for EAP Services.
If you feel I could be of assistance to you don't hesitate to contact me, please call or email me and we can look to set up an initial telephone or face to face introductory meeting
I welcome EAP and Insurance referrals.
I am fully insured, and meet all Supervision and Professional development requirements
As a registered member of the BACP my practice is guided by the Ethical Framework For Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy
Training, qualifications & experience
Qualifications
CPCAB Diploma in Person Centred /Integrative Counselling 2002
IANPC Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy 2017
Trained to the Drug and Alcohol National Occupational Standards [DANOS]
Training
I have over the years trained in Motivational Interviewing, Sex and Sexuality, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Psycho-social Interventions, Community Reinforcement And Family Training [Craft], Trauma. CBT and DBT
Continuing self development
Experience
24 years experience of providing specialised counselling support to Individuals struggling with their alcohol use, and working through the many associated problems that often arise from misuse including generalised anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social phobias and depression. I have throughout also provided one to one counselling and group support for family members affected by a relatives alcohol or drug use.
I struggled for many years with my own addiction issues and came into counselling as a 'wounded healer' - There is nearly always something positive to be found from negative situations and my own struggle and subsequent recovery has given me an in depth understanding into the issues surrounding alcohol dependency, and the many associated conditions related to it, and which often drive it.
I have supervised key workers who support military veterans and have provided one to one counselling for veterans themselves.
My current EAP [ Employment Assistance Programme] work mainly focuses on the negative effects of the past Covid restrictions, such as agoraphobic issues, and work related stress, which has increasingly become a major problem in many settings.
My work in the assisted housing projects focused on preparing clients to move back into society, regaining their independence and self worth after recovery from their long term problems
Member organisations

BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership

The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.

Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
- I have provided one to one and group family support for those affected by anothers substance misuse since 2001.
- I have provided supervision to key workers supporting armed forces veterans, and currently provide supervision to support workers in local charities
- I have provided counselling support to two local 'Lighthouse homes' which promote independent living.
- The provision of counselling and supervision to ex military personel.
- Trained and experienced in trauma, PTSD and DBT [Dialectical Behaviour Therapy] an approach evidenced to be helpful for those struggling with personality disorders [BPD] and increasingly being utilised in other areas such as addiction
Therapies offered
Fees
£40.00 per session
Free initial in-person or telephone session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
Additional information
Introductory / assessment session free of charge.
My fees are £40 for individuals / couples, family members, and each session is one hour in duration.
Concessions are available for student / placement counsellors, and those with a limited income.
Telephone counselling is available on request.
When I work
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Daytime and evening appointments available, also regular weekends.
Further information
I have a counselling garden room in Bolsover where I offer a safe, welcoming and confidential space, not far from junction 29 and 29a of the M1.