David O’Hara
Counsellor
am a Person-Centred Counsellor who has studied to diploma at Bury College. My background is ten years’ experience in mental health settings, working with a wide variety of clients such as a forensic background, personality disorders, drug, and alcohol issues. I have worked within care homes, forensic step-down services and in the charity sector. I am a member of the BACP and will be receiving full accreditation in April 2021.
Counselling is a form of therapy which can help individuals understand and work through painful and seemingly overwhelming issues; it can help you discover new directions and positive ways of enriching your life. As a person-centred counsellor, I offer a safe and confidential space where personal and private feelings can be explored, where issues can be shared without the worry of being judged. Counselling allows time to identify the problem and to look at alternative options with the goal of empowering you to make necessary changes.
Person centred counselling is a type of talking therapy that centres on the client’s emotional responses to the issues that affect them. It offers the client the opportunity to discuss a variety of issues with a skilled practitioner who will facilitate the client to explore and reflect on their emotions, responses and actions to events in their life.
Person centred therapy is built on the respect for the client’s autonomy in finding solutions to their issues and in their authority on their own experiences. We will look at what matters to you, how you want to be able to resolve issues, look at what motivates you and help you find the ways and the confidence to achieve your goals
The role of a person-centred counsellor is to create a non-judgemental space that facilitates the growth of the client, through reflection and self-discovery. The counsellor’s role is to shine a light on where there is an incongruence between beliefs and actions that cause the distress that clients feel. A person-centred therapist will not seek to lead the sessions so it will be up to the client to be willing to engage with their emotions and feelings as the sessions will not be structured by the counsellor directing the work. The goal is to be open to new experiences; both positive and negative and support you to feel able to deal with the issues that come forward rather than denying them.
Person centred counselling works well with people who are feeling depressed, anxious or bereaved. As the work is non-directive it works well with people who are able to express themselves, have an urge to explore their own emotions and are willing to accept the support to understand and process their thoughts as they are supported to understand the way they see the world.
Qualifications
Level 2 Awards in counselling concepts
Level 3 certificate in counselling skills
Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling
Certificate in Health and Social Care