About me
Counselling for young people and adults in Whitley Bay
When life feels overwhelming, the right support can help you move forward. I’m David, and I help young people and adults navigate the challenges of anxiety, depression and stress, build confidence and improve their overall mental health and wellbeing. My approach is warm, grounded and personal: together, we can make sense of what you’re experiencing, build on your strengths and work towards changes that matter to you.
You do not need to have everything worked out before getting in touch.
I’m a BACP-registered psychotherapeutic counsellor supporting children, young people and adults. I offer a welcoming, thoughtful space where you can talk openly, feel heard and explore what matters to you.
A warm, grounded approach
Clients tell me they value my warmth, calm presence and ability to put them at ease. They describe feeling listened to, understood and supported, with space to explore difficult experiences without judgement.
They’ve also shared that our work together has made a positive, sometimes life-changing difference, helping them to build confidence through understand themselves better with the ability to move forward. Many go on to recommend me to family and friends.
As an integrative counsellor, I draw on different therapeutic approaches rather than expecting everyone to fit the same way of working. This allows me to adapt sessions to your personal needs, age and circumstances.
Support for young people and adults
For young people, counselling offers space to explore feelings and experiences that may be difficult to put into words. My experience through working in primary schools, a secondary academy and specialist support services helps me connect with young people at different stages of their lives.
For adults, I offer support with anxiety, depression, stress, bereavement, low self-esteem, low confidence, compulsive behaviour and the effects of suffering abuse and/or neglect. I also support people navigating the emotional challenges associated with ADHD and autism.
Together, we can explore how past experiences and present difficulties impact how you feel about yourself and your ability to relate to others, helping you develop greater self-understanding so that you can move forward.
Experience you can trust
My therapeutic experience includes working with adults in private practice and at Swarland Avenue GP surgery, supporting people through a wide range of emotional difficulties and life challenges. Alongside this, I have substantial experience supporting children and young people in schools, including Hotspur Primary School, as well as Walker Riverside Academy and Barnardo’s Orchard Mosaic service.
My wider professional background also includes supporting young people and families through North Tyneside Council’s Youth Offending Team and Barnardo’s in Whitley Bay and Newcastle.
I am an approved supplier for Adopt North East, providing therapeutic support to adopted children, young people, adults and their families.
Professional training
I trained at Northern Guild Psychotherapy and Counselling, an established training organisation with a national reputation for excellence.
My professional training gives me a strong foundation for helping you understand yourself, your relationships and the patterns that may be holding you back. We can explore how early experiences shape the way you connect with others, how past events influence your feelings today, and how you communicate and respond in relationships. Throughout our work, I recognise your individual strengths and capacity for change, keeping the focus on what matters to you.
Getting started
An initial telephone conversation is a chance to share what you’re looking for, ask questions and hear how I work. I’ll listen and help you consider whether I would be a good fit for you.
There’s no pressure to share more than you feel ready to or to book a session. You are welcome to contact me for yourself, or to discuss support for yourself, your child or a family member. Use the “Email me” or “Call me” links above to arrange an initial conversation.
I offer sessions in person in Whitley Bay and online. My practice is approximately one minute’s walk from Whitley Bay Metro station, with parking nearby.
In-person sessions take place in a warm, inviting space on the second floor, reached by two flights of stairs. A waiting area is available for parents, with WiFi, tea and coffee facilities and access to a WC.
Training, qualifications & experience
I am a fully qualified Integrative Psychotherapeutic Counsellor and I work with children, young people and adults. I qualified from the Northern Guild, one of the best training institutes in the UK and I’m a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). As a member of BACP, I adhere to strict ethical codes which act to serve and protect each and every one of my clients.
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
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
£70.00 per session
Additional information
Each session length is 50 minutes.
When I work
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