David O'Hara , NCPS

David O'Hara is a person-centred counsellor with five years of post-qualification practice and more than 15 years of experience working in mental health settings. He brings prior roles in care homes, forensic step-down services, and mental health charities to his therapeutic work, having supported adults with complex needs including personality disorders, addiction, and long-term mental health challenges.

His approach is grounded in genuine acceptance and empathic presence. He offers Client-Centred Therapy - a non-directive model that emphasises empathy, authenticity, and acceptance - and focuses on creating a space where people can explore their thoughts and feelings at their own pace. He does not aim to diagnose or fix clients but to walk alongside them as they reconnect with clarity, self-trust, and direction.

David works with adults aged 18 and over and has particular experience supporting people with addiction and substance use, anxiety and depression, low self-esteem or feeling lost, neurodivergence, and LGB identities. His practice is neurodivergent-affirming, LGB-friendly, and trauma-aware, shaped by a long history of supporting people who cope and survive in different ways.

He holds the NCPS credential, indicating formal training in counselling, and uses his background to offer steady, empathic support to adults navigating relationship concerns, life transitions, grief, and a range of emotional and interpersonal difficulties.

Client-Centered Support Delivered Online

David O'Hara practices Client-Centred Therapy, a non-directive approach that prioritises empathy, authenticity, and acceptance. This method gives clients space to explore feelings and experiences at their own pace and is suited to issues such as anxiety, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, and life transitions.

Alongside a person-centred stance, his work is trauma-aware and affirming of diverse identities, including neurodivergence and LGB experiences. A trauma-aware orientation means sessions are paced to acknowledge past difficulties and the complexity of coping strategies, helping people feel understood while they work through challenging material.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. David O'Hara works with clients to identify which style or combination of approaches best fits their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the way he works as understanding grows.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can be arranged by video call or phone, and there are options for live chat or text-based messaging when that format is more convenient. This variety makes it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and to access support from different locations, while still working with licensed professionals and therapists committed to effective, empathic care.