What My Clients say
Below are extracts from clients' emails about their experience of therapy (shown here with the clients' permission).
I have always considered myself to be strong, a coper, a doer, and not someone who would ever need or want counselling. I couldn't imagine how talking to a stranger could possibly help and I certainly didn't believe that my past had anything to do with the situation I found myself in. After an on going struggle with a PhD and a really negative relationship with my supervisor I found myself stuck in a rut and I couldn't get out. I went from being a motivated, self-disciplined, outgoing, sociable person to someone who couldn’t stop crying, dreaded social situations, and struggled to do more than get dressed in the morning. My boyfriend, friends, and family tried to help me but I was too concerned with worrying them or letting them down to be really honest with them. My fear of what might happen and what people might think had paralysed me. My GP suggested anti-depressants or counselling on the NHS but I didn't want to take medication because I wanted to 'fix' things not hide them and I wanted to try other options first. I was also reluctant to have 'stress related illness' on my records (it wasn't because of stress at work that I wasn't coping). So I decided to try to find some private counselling. I had stopped drinking and figured an hour a week of counselling would cost less than a night on the town and it would do me a lot more good.
I didn't want a counsellor who would 'head tilt', I needed someone who would challenge me if I dodged issues or covered up my problems (I'd become very good at that) but I also needed someone I could open up to, someone who would not judge me, and someone I could trust. David was all these things. Slowly but surely David helped me identify some of the most damaging thoughts and thought processes I had developed, we explored their origins and he offered me tools to counter them. Counselling was not a magical fix, I had to work on helping myself with support from David. Over time I was able to stop the downward spiral for long enough to work out how to get back on my feet. The first thing I noticed is I stopped picking fights with my boyfriend, I didn't cry so much, and I started getting some perspective on the things that had petrified me before. Before counselling I couldn't even imagine looking at my PhD again let alone finishing and passing it, but I did. I also believe that if I had not finished or passed I would have been able to deal with that too. My self-esteem is no longer based on my achievements alone and I have learned it's ok to be vulnerable and to ask for help sometimes. This may sound simple or even clichéd but for me it was quite a challenge.
The counselling David provided helped me climb out of a very dark place and it has equipped me with tools that might help me avoid ending up there again, but if I do I would not hesitate to ask for help and I would not see it as a sign of failure. I was cynical about counselling before but now I would recommend it to anyone who is struggling to cope for what ever reason.
Dr E
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Before I walked into the room for my first counselling session with David, I had convinced myself that he would tell me how well I was coping with life in spite of my problems and that I did not need counselling. Instead, I sat and cried for nearly the whole hour. I wanted to do something to enable me to stop feeling like that, as I had had recurrent bouts of depression over many years and felt like I finally needed to control it, rather than it controlling me. Taking that first step was one of the most positive things I have ever done for myself, and after a year and a half of counselling I am now in a stronger and healthier state of mind than I have ever felt before.
David’s approach to the sessions varied, depending on what the issues were, and I always felt safe and comfortable enough to share my inner most thoughts. He was supportive, non judgemental and easy to talk to.
We have explored all manner of issues together, including looking back to my childhood, and helping me to learn to face, understand and deal with difficult, and sometimes traumatic events that have had a significant bearing on who I am. My deepened understanding of myself and past and present relationships with my family, friends and work colleagues have enabled me to move forward positively with my life.
Life’s problems haven’t miraculously disappeared, but I now feel much more in control of my life, and happier with the choices I make. I would have no hesitation in recommending David as a counsellor to anybody seeking help to deal with problems such as depression, or any other mental struggles that are preventing them from getting the most from life.
Mrs D
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Following the worst period in my life I felt the only way forward was to see a counsellor as I wasn’t handling my problems very well at all. I didn’t even think I had the problem, I thought it was those around me. I looked in the phone book under counsellors and found David’s advert to be the most professional. Fate drew me to it for some reason and I thought I would give it a go.
Having never opened up to anyone ever, I was surprised at how comfortable I was with David and soon felt very trusting towards him. After only three sessions I felt that we had moved even closer and I found that there was nothing that I was worried to tell him. I really expected to have a year’s counselling, but after only eight sessions felt that I knew myself so much better. Thanks to David I realized that most of the problems were of my own doing. I am now very proud to say that because of him I can counsel myself in lots of ways and have learnt how to defuse situations and be logical instead of using paranoid and irrational thinking.
Mr A
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Following years of problems, mine eventually came to a head. I decided, yes, it was time I saw someone about it so I went on the internet and started to look. It didn’t take me too long to find one that I thought I would be comfortable with. I was automatically drawn to David Eames. I am so glad I was! I then plucked up the courage to call him. He was very polite and straight away sorted me an appointment out.
As you can imagine I was very nervous about my first session. When I arrived David welcomed me with an open mind and he was very understanding. He said he thought that it would only take about six sessions which to my surprise it did! I now have got over my addictions, with many thanks to David. He has also helped me face up to my problems and deal with them myself.
I am doing very well. I can now counsel myself and look to the future very positively.
I would highly recommend anyone with any sort of problems going to see David Eames. I have a lot to thank him for and would certainly go back to see him if I ever feel I have problems every again.
Ms B
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Having never required the need for counselling before in my life it was a giant hurdle to admit to myself that I did have a problem. The second hurdle to clear was to open up and share the problem with someone new. Being the person that I am, I would have found it very difficult to do this with family or friends.
I can honestly say I was not optimistic at first and questioned if this would really work. At the start of the first session my mind was put at ease straight away, I found that David was a very straight talking and non-judgemental person and within the first half hour I had a warm feeling that not only was this the right choice to make but also that this would actually work. Within six sessions we both got to the core of my problem. Thanks to David’s listening and clear thoughts I now put myself first and have carried on as though nothing had ever happened. I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending him to any one - whatever their problem was.
MR C
