David O'Hara, BACP

David O'Hara is a counsellor who focuses on helping people untangle stress, anxiety and low mood. He works with worries about self-esteem, relationships and life changes. David brings a calm, straightforward manner to sessions and aims to make talking about hard things easier.

He uses a person-centred approach that puts the client's perspective first. That means conversations are guided by what matters most to the person in the room. David also draws on cognitive behavioural techniques to identify unhelpful thought patterns and on mindfulness practices to build steadiness and attention.

His background includes a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Consumer Psychology. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and Psychotherapy and a Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Mindfulness-Based Approaches. David is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, BACP.

Sessions are practical and solution-focused while still allowing space for reflection. David often combines short exercises, discussion and simple mindfulness practices so people can try things between sessions. He aims to help people notice small changes that add up over time.

People come for many reasons, including grief, trauma, addiction concerns, parenting strain, sleeping problems and career uncertainty. David pays attention to values, communication and life purpose so people can find clearer direction and greater self-acceptance.

How his approaches translate to online therapy

David uses a person-centred approach that focuses on the client's agenda and what matters most to them in each session. This approach is useful for people who want a listening space and practical support to make changes. Cognitive behavioural therapy involves spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavioural steps to change patterns, which suits problems like anxiety, low mood and sleep difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. David will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and agree together which methods to try. That means sessions can adapt over time, using more reflective conversation, thought-challenging exercises or brief mindfulness practices as needed.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text messaging, which give flexibility for different days and needs. Video is useful for fuller conversation and guided exercises, phone calls work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat and messaging suit shorter check-ins or when writing feels easier. These options make it simpler to fit therapy around work, family commitments and other routines.