David Roberts

I am an experienced, integrative counsellor, counselling tutor, and supervisor trained in person-centred and psychodynamic approaches. I offer both short and long-term counselling to adults in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, and online. My integrative approach allows me to tailor my therapeutic model to your specific needs, facilitating change in the most beneficial way possible.

For over 14 years, I have supported clients with a range of difficulties, including depression, anxiety, identity issues, trauma, self-esteem, relationship difficulties, recovery from abuse, and life transitions such as loss. I have worked in various therapeutic settings and maintained a private practice throughout.

Life can be challenging, and if you're finding it difficult, please know that you're not alone. Sometimes, we need additional support to work through and understand our experiences. Talking to a trained therapist can be profoundly helpful, even if you've never tried counselling before. If you're feeling stressed, depressed, or struggling with self-esteem issues, talking about your feelings can help bring resolution and clarity.

My private practice is based in a quiet and comfortable room in Beaconsfield Old Town, where I offer counselling to adults both in person and online. I have created a relaxed and confidential space where you can talk openly and be yourself without judgement.

My way of working is warm, relational and collaborative. I adapt the way I work to you as an individual rather than expecting you to fit a particular therapeutic approach. We might explore what is happening in your life now, earlier experiences and relationships, and patterns that continue to influence how you think, feel and relate to others. I am supportive, but I am not a passive therapist and I am prepared to challenge when I believe it may be helpful.

I work with adults experiencing a wide range of emotional and relationship difficulties, with particular experience in working with men and LGBTQ+ clients. Whatever brings you to counselling, my aim is to offer a relationship in which you feel able to speak honestly, develop a greater understanding of yourself and consider what you may want to change.

Alongside my counselling practice, I am a Senior Accredited Counsellor, Clinical Supervisor and Counselling Tutor.

Our first session is an opportunity for us to meet and begin to understand what has brought you to counselling and what you would like from our work together. There is no expectation that you need to tell me everything straight away; we can work at a pace that feels right for you.

I will usually ask a little about what is happening in your life now, your background and any previous experience of counselling. Just as importantly, it gives you the opportunity to get a sense of me and how I work, and to decide whether you feel comfortable working with me.

If we decide to continue, we can begin to think together about what might be helpful to explore. I review our work regularly so that we can talk openly about how counselling is progressing and whether it continues to feel useful and relevant to you.

I currently have availability for new supervisees during week days.

Supervision is a requirement for anyone working in the counselling profession and indeed in many other helping professions. Most professional bodies will have their own minimum requirements which members are expected to meet. For example the BACP requires members to have a minimum of 1.5 hours of supervision per month.

I believe that clinical supervision should not be a source of anxiety or obligation for therapists. Unfortunately, some may have experienced supervision as punitive, where they felt pressured to conform to their supervisor's approach. This can stifle open communication and hinder the supervisee's growth.

In my practice, I view clinical supervision as a collaborative and relational process. With the client's safety as the foundation, I encourage creative exploration and a mutual curiosity between myself and the supervisee. I consider it a privilege to work with supervisees and value the unique perspectives and experiences they bring, including instances of parallel process.

Through open dialogue and compassionate reflection, we can uncover valuable insights and foster professional development. Sometimes, the most obvious observations are the most impactful, while other times, unexpected connections may emerge.

Clinical supervision offers a wealth of opportunities for skill enhancement and development. Through feedback and guidance from supervisors, you can gain new perspectives and refine your interventions to better serve your clients. Supervision also fosters self-reflection, leading to a deeper understanding of your strengths, limitations, and personal biases. This heightened self-awareness enables you to approach your work with greater empathy and authenticity.

Collaboration with supervisors exposes you to diverse perspectives and therapeutic approaches. This broadened understanding allows you to tailor your interventions to the unique needs of each client. Additionally, supervisors offer guidance on ethical decision-making, helping you navigate challenging situations while upholding ethical standards and client well-being.

Given the emotionally demanding nature of therapy, supervision provides a safe space to discuss the impact of your work and learn effective coping strategies. Furthermore, supervision encourages continuous learning and professional growth, to enhance your effectiveness as a counsellor.

During our first session together, I'd like to focus on establishing a contract on how we plan to work together. I believe this should be a collaborative process where we can find a working style that suits us both.

I'll explain my approach to supervision and welcome any questions you may have. Ideally, I'd like to use this first session to get to know each other better, as I feel our relationship will be key to successful supervision.