David Commings
Member Status: Accredited
Member No: NCS19-08247
Location: Exeter
Hello, my name is David. I am a husband and father of two daughters near Exeter in Devon. Having struggled with self confidence and worry myself at a young age, I felt compelled to train as a teacher and mentor working in both mainstream and special needs settings to support young people with their own difficulties. Though I loved this work I always found the opportunity for authenticity and the shedding of the social masks we all wear during 1:1 interactions particularly meaningful. Training to be a counsellor was one of the most significant and purposeful undertakings in my life as key components were self-reflection, facing my own psychological demons and rediscovering my authentic self beneath the layers of social conditioning. The trainee became client and with that I could tangibly empathise with the challenges, the discomfort and fought for rewards that counselling and psychotherapy can offer. The opportunity to re-acquaint with self, have clarity on the path one wants to tread through life and awaken inner resilience can be beyond value.
As an integrative counsellor I am able to draw on a variety of skills and techniques to cater for the unique experiences, thoughts and feelings we all have.The foundation of my practice is Person Centred Therapy (PCT) but I will also use Gestalt Therapy, Mindfulness, Transactional Analysis, Cognitive Behavioural therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and metaphorical tools like sand tray work where appropriate.