David Gibbs

I do not operate my counselling service as a business - I passionately believe that counselling should be available to all. Therefore I specialise in providing counselling, to the highest standard, to people of limited means. For example, a single mother in social housing may be in desperate need of help but simply unable to afford the going counselling rate of £50 per hour minimum. Accordingly I charge a maximum hourly rate of £15 and, in many deserving cases, provide a free service.

I completed my full and final formal counselling qualification in 2013. In 2015 I was appointed Lead Counsellor at Age UK Stockport. This was a paid position and I was responsible for over 40 student counsellors. I have completed over 500 counselling hours. Most of my recent work has been in a private capacity - some of my clients have been referrals from NHS GP practices. I hold a current Disclosure and Barring Service certificate. I am married and have two daughters.

I specialize in providing high quality counselling to people of limited means. In many cases I provide a free service and never charge more than £15 per hour. I have considerable experience of most counselling issues, including bereavement, relationships, illness, loneliness and general despair.

I have a full knowledge of the various counselling models, including "Cognitive," but I concentrate on a person-centred philosophy as each individual presents different issues. I use my listening skills and instincts to help my client to identify their main issues and then we work together to eliminate the various obstacles and barriers that they face, with a view to achieving mutually agreed outcomes. All of my work is face-to-face and the majority is undertaken in the client's home - each session is normally one hour. I give great attention to safeguarding and hold a current Disclosure and Barring certificate.