David Ward
Psychotherapeutic Counselling
& Coaching Psychology

What’s it all about?

Talking therapy, also known as psychotherapy, counselling, or psychological therapy, is a form of psychological intervention that involves speaking with a trained professional about your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. It is designed to help individuals manage a variety of emotional, psychological and life-related challenges, to promote improved mental well-being and enhance personal growth.

Talking therapy often encompasses a wide range of clinical approaches, yet at its core, it serves to create a safe, non-judgmental space in which individuals can openly and freely explore their thoughts and beliefs. A therapeutic environment is designed to promote self-awareness and psychological insight, allowing clients to develop greater objectivity and understanding to their needs. Through guided reflection and dialogue, individuals are supported in cultivating both cognitive and behavioural coping strategies that facilitate meaningful, lasting change and emotional resilience.


My clinical model is built upon the principles of person-centred therapy, which supports the client to access their own potential for self-development through the exploration of their life experience, past and present.

Person-Centred Therapy is a humanistic approach and emphasises empathy, authenticity, and unconditional positive as resources that support the clients journey toward self-healing. The therapeutic relationship between therapist and client is also viewed as an essential component of effective therapy. The therapeutic relationship between therapist and client is characterised by a mutual respect, open communication, and a shared understanding of agreed aims to promote better outcomes for therapy.

My Therapeutic Approach.

Empty wooden bench facing the ocean on a grassy area with cloudy sky

Integrative Therapy.

Integrative therapy is a holistic approach to clinical practice, which means that it combines various therapeutic concepts to address the unique needs of each individual. While person-centred therapy forms the foundation of my clinical orientation, my approach is also significantly informed by psychodynamic theory, a therapeutic framework that seeks to understand the origins of emotional and psychological distress.

Central to psychodynamic theory is the belief that early life experiences and unresolved conflicts, particularly those rooted in childhood can have a lasting impact on how we relate to ourselves and others in our environment. Psychodynamic therapy provides a framework for exploring historical trauma that can manifest as ongoing dysfunctional behaviours, emotions, and relational patterns. Therefore, the therapeutic aim is to bring these unconscious influences into conscious awareness to encourage insight and objectivity to meaningful psychological change.

Integration of Coaching
Psychology

Coaching psychology and positive psychology are clinical resources that apply evidence-based research within a clinical setting. These help to promote personal development via the scientific study of human flourishing by optimising the clients own strengths and resources to enable personal growth, much in the same way person-centred therapy does.

Coaching psychology is future-focused and grounded in scientifically informed interventions to support personal development. By integrating this approach with traditional therapeutic perspectives, I offer a clinical model that seeks to address the lasting impact of traumatic experiences and the transformative potential of future change. This integration of therapy and coaching psychology reflects a contemporary, holistic view of mental health, one that is particularly effective for addressing trauma-related psychopathologies while also supporting ongoing personal change.

A collage of open books laid out flat, showing pages with various texts in black font on white or off-white pages.

Qualifications.

I am a fully qualified therapist and a registered member of the BACP (British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists). I completed my professional training at CPPD in London, gaining a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) and an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma (AdvPGDip) in Humanistic Integrative Counselling. In addition to acquiring the relevant qualifications needed for clinical practice I have also completed a Master’s Degree (MSc) in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, which has deepened my understanding of the concept of human flourishing and personal development.

I adhere to the ethical frameworks of both the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). I have appropriate insurance for my clinical work and any documentation relating to any of my qualifications can be provided.

Person sitting with hands clasped, wearing rings and bracelets, being recorded on a smartphone

Clinical Experience.

II have extensive experience working within substance misuse services, including Equinox, Change Grow Live (CGL), and Westminster Drug Project. My professional background also includes roles within the NHS and the education sector, most notably as an associate therapist at the prestigious Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. I currently lead a clinical service for Nacro, a national criminal justice organisation working in partnership with the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), where I provide clinical support to individuals facing a range of complex mental health challenges on the completion of a prison sentence.

In contrast, my work as a coaching psychology practitioner typically involves supporting individuals who are not experiencing significant mental illness but who feel stuck, unfulfilled, or uncertain about their direction in life.

What Next?

While this website offers a brief overview of how I work, many of the most meaningful aspects of therapy can’t fully be captured here.

To support you in making an informed decision, I offer a free 30-minute in person or online consultation. This will give you the chance to share a little bit about yourself within a strict confidential meeting and ask any questions you may have to get a sense of whether my therapeutic approach feels like the right fit for your needs.

Beginning a therapeutic journey can feel daunting and the connection between therapist and client plays a central role in all areas of therapeutic practice. Therefore, if you’d like to understand a little more about how I work you can contact me via the form below or feel free to phone or email me directly.

Contact/Fees.

30 minute consultation – Free
60 minute consultation – £80
80 minute consultation – £110

Face to face and online appointments available.

Stotfold, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom.

Strictly by Appointment Only

Phone 07870 601374
Email david@themetacognitionspace.com

Black and white portrait of a middle-aged man with dark hair and a beard, wearing a dark shirt, looking directly at the camera.
BACP collective mark with purple text, indicating an accredited member with registration number 117129, and a purple symbol representing professional standards authority.