Paul Davies
I genuinely believe in the transformative power of conversation. My mission is to provide a safe and supportive environment for individuals seeking to explore their thoughts and feelings. I offer a range of counselling services tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. With a focus on empathy and understanding, I strive to foster personal growth and well-being. Here, I hope you will find a space to reflect, heal, and gain clarity in your journey.
I try to use what I call 'conversational counselling' whereby we will try and maintain a comfortable level of enquiry, even when I might challenge or dig a little deeper into what we are talking about. I am a firm believer in the power and importance of maintaining a sense of humour, and am not afraid of being the butt of the joke myself! See below!
That said, (and despite the picture), I will treat you and your troubles with complete professionalism and respect.
As an Integrative Psychotherapist, rather than focussing on one specific approach, or sometimes described as 'modality' we are trained in a wide range of theories to better help you find the solutions you are looking for.
The different modalities include:
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CBT. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. (Focuses on your behaviour)
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EMDR. Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing Therapy
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Gestalt. Focuses on the 'here and now' feelings and thoughts.
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Person Centred Therapy A humanistic and non-directive approach.
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Psychodynamic. A long term deep examination of past influences.
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Transactional Analysis. Examines ways of communication, and social interactions.
Using a combination of some of the above, it allows us to explore what is troubling you, where it potentially began and what we can do to bring about positive change.
At the heart of all of these different approaches is the importance of active listening and building a strong therapeutic relationship. The more you put in, the more we can hopefully get out of the work. But you won't be doing it alone.
Qualifications:
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Level 5 Integrative Psychotherapy
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Diploma in Business Performance and Life Coaching
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Diploma in Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP)
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Level 4 Practitioner Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy
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Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing Therapy Diploma.
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safeTALK suicide awareness and prevention.
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Mental Health First Aid
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Compassion Focused Therapy Theory and Practice
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Working with Bereavement and Complex Grief
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Walking and Outdoor Therapy introduction.
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Working with context identity/diversity, and universal equity: An embedded, whole-practice approach
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Psychosexual Issues for Men
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Level 3 Counselling Theory and Practice. 1996 to 1997
I am a late diagnosed 'Autistic' man, who is in the privileged position of not being prepared to wear masks to fit in any longer. I know this makes me lucky in many respects, but I wonder if having read this, you now think differently about working with me? Do the stereotypes and misinformation around different ways of thinking and feeling (neurodivergence) make you think twice about my ability? Well sadly you wouldn't be the first to think this way, which is why I have spent many years trying to help educate people on the reality of the lived autistic experience. I adopt a bizarrely controversial attitude that autistic, or other neurodivergent, people are actually human beings worthy of respect! As you can see below, the neurodivergent umbrella covers a wide range of different conditions or labels or ways of being; all are part of natures wider spectrum of life. Now, this isn't to say that these differences can be challenging for the individual and sometimes the people around them, but continuing to treat people as 'broken' or 'damaged' or 'disordered' simply for being different is not something I can do as a person or as a Psychotherapist.
I have chapters published in the following books (click on image for more details):
Chapter 12: New light through old windows. By Paul Davies
Chapter 12: On the Ontological Status of Autism: An Angry Poetic Response to the Double Empathy Problem. Paul Davies
Chapter 11. Creating Neuromixed Learning Environments in Higher Education.
Dr Allison Moore and Paul Davies
Until last year I contributed, as a Visiting Lecturer, to both the Undergraduate degree and Masters degree in Critical Autism Studies at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk Lancashire. The underpinning approach of these degree pathways fitted my lived experience and workd view perfectly. I have also delvered two papers to the PARC (Participatory Autistic Research Collective) annual conferences as an independent researcher, and another to the Leeds Disability Conference 2024.
I live by the viewpoint that cognitive differences are simply part of the joy of humanity, and whilst sometimes they can be disabling, they are not disorders. I work to help people find acceptance of their own way of experiencing life, especially newly diagnosed ND people, from young adults to those finding their true self later in life; I just try to work with people to be honest.
I work to create a safe space to help you find a sense of balance and try to resolve your issues through therapy, and then, if required, we can shift into a separate coaching phase. This helps you to actively find practical and positive ways forward and meet your personal goals. I have worked with men’s mental health issues, especially adult male survivors of childhood abuse.
I have co-delivered a large number of training events and psychoeducational group sessions over the last 35 years regarding autism and trauma, autism support, the reality of neurodiversity, Critiques of the medical model of disability, the impact of childhood sexual abuse on men, anger management, to public bodies including the NHS and a host of charity sector organisations who support mental health and suicide prevention.
Nothing about us without us!
