David Bailey

I currently have availability on Mondays and Tuesdays, from 10.30am to 6.00pm. 

Finding the right therapist can feel frightening, especially if you’ve spent years feeling like you have to explain yourself before you can even begin. In our work together, you won’t need to justify how you feel, or talk or act in a certain way. You can simply be who you are.

I believe that understanding yourself is one of the most valuable things you can do. I don’t believe therapy is about fixing yourself or changing yourself to become someone different. It can be about exploring and discovering who you really are, and choosing your own path forward from there.

Whether you are facing a difficult life transition, feeling overwhelmed, or simply looking for a space to explore your feelings, I offer a warm, compassionate environment where you can speak openly and without judgment. I work collaboratively with adults from all walks of life, helping you navigate life’s challenges and find greater clarity and self-acceptance.

The type of therapy I offer is known as person-centred therapy. Basically, this means I don’t sit across from you pretending to know everything. You are the expert on your life. My role isn’t to judge, direct you, or tell you what to do, but to provide a space where you feel genuinely heard and supported, so that you can figure things out in your own time.

While I work with clients on a broad range of issues, I have a particular interest in working with LGBTQ+ clients and those exploring questions of gender, sexuality, and identity. As a gay man myself, I bring lived understanding of what it means to grow up feeling unlike everyone around you, and the shame and confusion that can quietly build up over time.

I also have personal experience of ADHD. I am aware of the ways neurodivergence can shape how we feel about ourselves. I also know that some traditional therapies are ineffective or even harmful to people with neurodiversity; I strive to work in ways that support how you think and how you see yourself.

I work from a social justice perspective, which means I pay attention not just to what’s happening inside you, but to the wider world in which your life is taking place. Some of the weight we carry belongs to our circumstances, not our selves.

I offer a free 15-minute informal chat by phone or video call, where we can discuss what you would like to get out of counselling, you can ask any questions, and then can decide if you want to proceed with an initial appointment.

During our first appointment, we will go over the counselling agreement to ensure we both understand the arrangements moving forward. Then we will spend the rest of the time exploring whatever you want to discuss so we can get a picture of how it is impacting you and how we might work together to tackle it.