David Weale

I am a Transactional Analysis Psychotherapist and Psychotherapeutic Counsellor. I have an M.Sc in Psychotherapy as well as counselling diplomas in Transactional Analysis and Educational Therapy.

I work with adult individuals and couples. I specialise in working with anxiety, depression, relationships, self-esteem, self-worth, professional problems and personal challenges.

I work with a wide variety of clients from different ethnic backgrounds, sexualities and genders. I work a lot with LGBT clients, particularly gay men, and in particular with issues like coming to terms with their sexuality, acceptance, feeling excluded, being isolated, drug and alcohol addiction, relationships, how to find a relationship, low self-worth and self-loathing. Issues surrounding living with HIV.

I work with what clients bring about their lives. Many clients feel unfulfilled, troubled, keep feeling they repeat the same behavioural patterns and struggle to move forward in their lives.

Therapy is about finding greater self-awareness which is the biggest healer.

I will also work with a client's personal journey through life especially their emotional journey. This can go right back to very early childhood experiences which can implant negative and undermining feelings about the self. Understanding the impact of these experiences can help a client decontaminate negative thoughts about themselves and liberate them to becoming more autonomous in how they live their lives.

Therapy can be short term, a few sessions only that may help to clarify or resolve an aspect of your life and thinking. Equally, it may be more open ended. At any time, you are able to withdraw from your therapy. I hope however that if this happens it is done by working together. Some people find that their therapy becomes an integral part of their care and support and may find it extending to months or even longer, but that process evolves very gradually.

My practice is based in Central London right opposite Euston Station. I work both online and face to face.

Should we work together, I offer weekly sessions at the same time and on the same day each week. Zoom and online work does offer greater flexibility however. Each session is 50 minutes long and can be longer for couples. Occasionally and depending on how the work proceeds, I can offer twice weekly sessions.

At the start of the therapy it is all about establishing the relationship between us. It is essential that you feel comfortable, safe and secure when in therapy. I offer complete confidentiality. What goes on between us in sessions remains between us. That secure relationship allows you to explore thoughts and feelings you may never have been able to share with anyone else. Friends offer support and advice and will care about you. However, they may also complicate things for you unintentionally. In therapy, I do not tell you what I think or offer advice to tell you what to do, at least not directly. I work with you so that through increased empowerment you are able to make you own decisions with increasing confidence. This in turn improves self-worth and self-esteem.

Your first session is like an assessment although I don't ask you to complete an assessment form. I do ask for contact details and provide a contract which outlines the therapeutic framework and is a simple agreement of how we will work together and covers issues like notice about missing sessions, sessional fees and timings. All data is kept confidential according to GDPR guidelines.  You can bring to this session, ideas about what you would like to explore in your therapy. It may be the first time you have ever experienced therapy so there will be questions for you to ask. You will of course meet me and it is very important that you listen to your own instincts about whether or not I would be the right fit for you. It is important you do have that feeling so that you can develop confidence in the relationship.

I hope at the end of that session that you will feel that you have made the right decision to explore therapy. I never underestimate just what a big decision it is to reach out and decide it is time to try therapy.

I do not expect a decision at the end of that first session. You will need time to reflect on it and then make a decision. There is no commitment beyond that first session.