David O'Hara

Are you feeling anxious, depressed, or stressed? Maybe it's pressure at work, a difficult relationship, or a growing sense that something needs to change. You may already know exactly what's wrong but haven't found a way through it yet. Many of the men I work with have spent a long time managing on their own before reaching out. Some arrive with a specific difficulty in mind. Others just want space to think honestly about what's going on, with someone outside their work, family, and friendships. I see clients online, in person at Riverside Wellbeing Centre in Whaley Bridge, and outdoors for walk-and-talk sessions in the Sett Valley. I also offer a free 15-minute introductory call. Why men come to therapy There's often a point at which the usual strategies stop working. The pressure at work doesn't ease. The relationship stays stuck. The low mood or anxiety doesn't respond to the things that used to help. And carrying it alone starts to feel harder than reaching out. Therapy can help when: - Life looks good on paper but something still feels missing - Stress, anxiety, or burnout are making it hard to switch off or enjoy things - You struggle with self-doubt, feeling like you're never quite enough no matter what you do - You want more fulfilling relationships but find it hard to be yourself around others - Your own interests and direction feel overshadowed by pressure from work, family, or yourself How I work I'm a BACP-registered counsellor (MBACP) working from a person-centred approach. You set the direction, and if there's a concept, idea, or exercise that might be useful, we can draw on it. Many people come to therapy looking for tools and techniques, and sometimes that's a useful place to start. Over time, the work often turns to what's driving those pressures underneath, and to a more balanced relationship with the expectations you place on yourself. Where useful, I also draw on: - Mindfulness-based approaches - Values and strengths work - Meditation and contemplative practice - Psychological theory and evidence My aim is to offer: - Space to speak honestly and without judgement - Support in figuring out what you actually want, not what you should want - A relational, person-centred approach that moves at your pace My background Before training as a counsellor I spent several years in business, so I have a feel for the pressures of professional life and the gap between how things look from the outside and how they feel on the inside. I'm also a trained meditation teacher, and can support clients who have or want to develop a meditation practice. Outside private practice, I work with Mentell, a UK charity providing peer support circles for men online and in person. I train and mentor facilitators, run workshops, and support volunteers. This keeps me close to the kinds of struggles many men carry quietly like shame, loneliness, compulsive habits, anger and the pressure to cope alone. It continues to inform how I think about connection, honesty, and change. Next step If any of this resonates, get in touch to arrange a free 15-minute introductory call, and we can see whether working together feels like a good fit.