Counsellor profile
David Spivey, BACP
Counsellor - relationships and life changes
See online counselling options- Relationship issues
- Grief and loss
- Mindfulness practice
About David
Counsellor and member of BACP, David Spivey has 16 years of experience helping people with relationship problems, grief, self-esteem and life changes. He works with issues such as stress, anxiety, compassion fatigue and workplace concerns. Sessions are offered in English and David practises in the United Kingdom.
David describes a practical, down-to-earth approach. He brings experience from retail, running a construction business and managing voluntary services for homeless young adults and unpaid carers. He has also volunteered in a hospice supporting bereaved relatives and worked as a business mentor for the Princes Trust. These roles shape a straightforward way of talking about money worries, career shifts and caregiving stress.
Sessions focus on what is happening in someone's life now and how patterns from the past affect current relationships and choices. He uses humanistic, relational work alongside transpersonal ideas such as metaphor, dreams and imagery to widen how people make sense of their experience. Motivational interviewing and mindfulness ideas are also part of his practice when they suit the person.
David aims to help clients look at problems clearly and find practical directions forward. He encourages honest discussion about feelings such as guilt, shame or anger and about difficult events like separation or bereavement. He also supports people dealing with intimacy issues and questions of life purpose.
If someone wants to start, the usual process is to complete a short matching questionnaire and book a first session. Pricing varies by location and the service uses a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
Therapeutic approaches and doing therapy online
David often uses attachment-based thinking to look at how early relationships affect current connections. This approach looks at patterns in how people relate and can help with intimacy issues, trust and recurring conflicts.He also draws on client-centred work which concentrates on what the person brings in the moment. That means the counsellor follows the client's pace, listens closely and helps clarify feelings and choices. Mindfulness ideas are used to build awareness of thoughts and bodily responses, which can help with stress and anxiety.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. David will talk with the client about their goals, preferences and what feels manageable. Together they decide which methods to try and review how they are working as therapy progresses.
The biography does not specify session formats, so confirm the available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counselling into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow quieter, shorter check-ins when needed. Registered or accredited professionals often offer a mix of ways to meet, and David will explain practical arrangements when you choose a session.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
16+ years
Listed in
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he help with?
He works with relationship issues, grief, self-esteem, coping with life changes, stress and anxiety. Other areas include compassion fatigue, workplace concerns and intimacy-related issues.
What is his therapeutic style?
He uses a humanistic, relational approach and draws on transpersonal ideas. Jungian themes, mindfulness and motivational interviewing are used when they suit the client.
How much experience does he have?
He has 16 years of professional experience across counselling, management in the voluntary sector and prior business roles.
Which professional body is he a member of?
He is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, shown as BACP.
Can I work with him if I live outside the UK?
International clients are accepted and sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are offered?
Please confirm the current session options before booking as the biography does not list specific formats.
How are sessions charged?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Start by selecting the See online counselling options button, complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A membership or registration can be checked on the professional body's own register.
Online counselling is not emergency care. In an emergency call 999, or see the help numbers.