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David Atlay

David Atlay

BACP · United Kingdom

Practical, warm counselling for everyday struggles

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Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.

  • Person-centred listening
  • CBT strategies
  • Support for life changes

About David

David Atlay is a counsellor with ten years' experience who holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling and is a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). He focuses on helping people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and life changes. He presents as calm and approachable and aims to make talking about hard things feel straightforward and safe.

David uses Client-Centred Therapy to listen without judgement and to help people find their own answers. He also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify thought patterns and try practical steps that reduce anxiety and low mood. Sessions are conversational and focused on what will help day-to-day life.

In sessions people can expect to talk through what is causing their difficulties and try new strategies for coping. David describes his style as warm, patient and encouraging. He works at a steady pace so people can build confidence and energy again.

He has particular experience with concerns such as addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship problems and parenting stress. Additional focus areas include abandonment, adoption and foster care, attachment issues and body image. These areas are offered alongside more general support for career worries and coping with major life transitions.

People who want a practical, empathetic counsellor who uses listening plus evidence-based exercises may find his approach helpful. To start a conversation, follow the site's booking steps and complete the short questionnaire to match with him.

How his approaches translate to online counselling

Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person's experience. The counsellor aims to reflect feelings and help people find their own solutions, which can work well in remote sessions where careful listening matters. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT looks at links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful patterns; it is often used for anxiety, low mood and stress.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The counsellor will discuss a client's goals and preferences and then agree which methods to try. This means sessions can mix listening, exploration and hands-on strategies so the work suits the person's needs.

Confirm the exact online session options before booking as formats are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let people attend from more convenient locations and maintain continuity when life is disrupted. The focus stays on practical ways to cope, building new habits and adjusting plans so therapy fits everyday life.

Areas of expertise

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseGriefEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCoachingCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDivorce and separationEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameHoardingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Experience

10+ years

Credentials

United Kingdom

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does this counsellor help with?

David works with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression and coping with life changes. He also offers help for trauma, addictions, grief, relationship problems and parenting stress.

How would you describe the therapeutic style?

His style is warm, patient and non-judgemental. He combines listening with practical steps so conversations lead to small changes between sessions.

What is his professional background?

He has ten years' experience and holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling. He aims to support personal growth and change through talk and practical work.

Which professional credential does he hold and where is he based?

He is a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and works in the United Kingdom.

In which languages can sessions be held?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can people outside the UK work with him?

International clients are not currently accepted. He works with people within the United Kingdom.

How are costs and payment handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy?

Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

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