Tired of explaining yourself? Start understanding yourself.
Finding the right therapist can feel frightening, especially if you’ve spent years feeling like you have to explain yourself before you can even begin. In our work together, you won’t need to justify how you feel, or talk or act in a certain way. You can simply be who you are.
I believe that understanding yourself is one of the most valuable things you can do. I don’t believe therapy is about fixing yourself or changing yourself to become someone different. It can be about exploring and discovering who you really are, and choosing your own path forward from there.
About me
Whether you are facing a difficult life transition, feeling overwhelmed, or simply looking for a space to explore your feelings, I offer a warm, compassionate environment where you can speak openly and without judgment. I work collaboratively with adults from all walks of life, helping you navigate life’s challenges and find greater clarity and self-acceptance.
The type of therapy I offer is known as person-centred therapy. Basically, this means I don’t sit across from you pretending to know everything. You are the expert on your life. My role isn’t to judge, direct you, or tell you what to do, but to provide a space where you feel genuinely heard and supported, so that you can figure things out in your own time.
While I work with clients on a broad range of issues, I have a particular interest in working with LGBTQ+ clients and those exploring questions of gender, sexuality, and identity. As a gay man myself, I bring lived understanding of what it means to grow up feeling unlike everyone around you, and the shame and confusion that can quietly build up over time.
I also have personal experience of ADHD. I am aware of the ways neurodivergence can shape how we feel about ourselves. I also know that some traditional therapies are ineffective or even harmful to people with neurodiversity; I strive to work in ways that support how you think and how you see yourself.
I work from a social justice perspective, which means I pay attention not just to what’s happening inside you, but to the wider world in which your life is taking place. Some of the weight we carry belongs to our circumstances, not our selves.
I hold a Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling, and I have worked with York Mind, alongside the NHS, City of York Council, and York Carers Centre, at York’s Wellbeing Hubs supporting city residents’ mental health. Before training as a counsellor, I had a career in magazine publishing, and worked as a writer and editor. Clients have told me they appreciate my ability to communicate in plain English, not confusing psychobabble, and the fast-paced world of publishing gives me an appreciation for the pressures faced by many of us in the modern workforce.
Practical Information
I work out of Millers Yard on Gillygate in central York.
Sessions are 50 minutes and cost £60.
I offer a free 15-minute informal chat by phone or video call, where we can discuss what you would like to get out of counselling, you can ask any questions, and then can decide if you want to proceed with an initial appointment.
During our first appointment, we will go over the counselling agreement to ensure we both understand the arrangements moving forward. Then we will spend the rest of the time exploring whatever you want to discuss so we can get a picture of how it is impacting you and how we might work together to tackle it.
I am a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP), registration number 422203. I adhere to their Ethical Framework.
I take your confidentiality and the management of your data seriously. For more details, you can find my privacy policy by clicking on this link.
If you’d like to get in touch…
I look forward to hearing from you. You can email me at
hello@davidbaileycounselling.co.uk
or you can phone me on
07526 811062
(feel free to leave a message)
