David Atlay, BACP

David Atlay is a counsellor with ten years' experience supporting people through major life challenges. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and is a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). David aims to be a calm and steady presence while someone talks through what feels overwhelming.

He frames his work around person-centred principles, offering a non-judgemental space where a person’s experience is heard and validated. He also draws on solution-focused practices to help translate insights into practical steps. Sessions typically involve talking through current difficulties and testing small changes that can feel manageable.

David commonly supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, career uncertainty, depression, grief and the pressures of change in midlife. He also works with issues such as addiction, relationship difficulties, trauma and disordered eating. He pays attention to attachment, abandonment and family-related struggles when these are part of someone’s story.

In session he listens patiently and aims to help people notice what drains their energy and what can restore it. He encourages realistic, step-by-step changes rather than sweeping promises. The focus is on practical strategies and building the confidence to use them in everyday life.

People who find David helpful often look for a warm and empathetic counsellor who combines steady listening with concrete ideas. If these priorities fit, the next step is to use the site's Start Therapy process to match and schedule an initial meeting.

How his approaches translate to online work

David uses client-centred therapy to create a listening space where a person’s experience is taken seriously and felt responses are attended to. This approach focuses on understanding someone’s perspective and responding with empathy, which helps when someone wants to talk through midlife doubts, relationship strain or loss.

He also uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, often called CBT, which looks at links between thoughts, feelings and actions. CBT offers practical exercises and experiments that can reduce anxiety, lift low mood and change unhelpful habits over time.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a joint process. He will work with a person to identify goals and try methods that suit their needs and preferences. Adjustments are made as work progresses so the approach stays useful and relevant.

For practicalities, confirm the session formats available before booking since specific formats were not detailed in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, cut commuting time and allow shorter check-ins when that suits a person’s schedule. It can also let someone choose options that match their comfort with video, audio or written check-ins once format choices are confirmed.