David O’Hara

I 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.

Star Rating

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Qualified

A qualified therapist will have completed a fully accredited counselling course, and a minimum level 4 diploma (the study from level 2 through to level 4 takes on average 4 years, during which time they will have also undertaken 100 hours of client work).

Insured

The therapist holds relevant practice insurance.

Supervised

All Mind Sense therapists undertake regular work with a supervising therapist, this is essential in helping them maintain their work with clients, safeguarding and maintaining client boundaries. In addition, all Mind Sense therapists engage with ongoing management supervision, here Mind Sense is committed to supporting the therapist (and their clients) helping to optimise the counselling environment, maintaining high standards and supporting therapists in their ongoing personal and professional development.

DBS Checked

All Mind Sense therapists have an Enhanced DBS check and subscribe to the updates service.

Member Governing Body

The therapist is a member of a governing body e.g. BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), as such they abide by their code of conduct and are committed to working within an ethical framework.

Accredited

An accredited therapist needs to have demonstrated high standards of training and competence, they need to have been in practice for at least three years, undertaken at least 450 hours of supervised practice hours and be undertaking supervision for at least 1.5 hours per month.

Qualifications

Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling level 4  |  Level 3 counselling skills  |  Level 2 Counselling skills  |  Certificate in Health and Social Care

Therapies Offered

Humanistic therapies

Person-centred therapy

Provision

Face to Face

Video (Zoom calls)

Fees and Sessions

£45 – per session

* Free initial consultation

Clients

Adults

Older Adults

Organisations

Employee Assistance Programme

Additional Services

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Location

Rochdale
(OL11 4EE)

Oldham
(OL2 8PH)

* Initial consultations are undertaken by our lead therapist who will help ensure you get access to the most appropriate therapist as quickly as possible