6 months ago I was a very depressed person who have been through a lot. I stopped believing that I can live a better life. I knew I should do something but I felt so hopeless and I knew I couldn’t do it on my own. I went on Internet and I found Mike. Today I am sitting here writing this review and I know that contacting Mike was the most important decision I have ever made... Mike is an amazing and very professional person who totally change my whole life...I almost feel like he gave my a new,better and very happy life. Thank you Mike,you have no idea how greatful I am, and how big impact your therapy have on my personal and professional life.

Having considered seeking counselling for the past few years, finding out about a betrayal from my partner spurred me on to contact Mike, who was recommended to me by a friend. I was apprehensive and trying to think how to communicate why I was there, how I was feeling or even what I wanted, even though I can talk non-stop! Mike was able to understand that I had, or so I thought, several unconnected issues which were a phobia, unable to let go of the past and the betrayal. Mike was flexible and allowed me to direct each session, sometimes spending an a session on one topic or on all 3. Mike used a range of methods, including exercises and I also had a session of Hypnotherapy, but I knew I was safe to say if I was confused or if I felt something wasn’t working (although this was rare!). I learnt a lot about myself and how all my issues were connected to an inability to feel out of control, which was like a lightbulb moment for me. Mike was genuinely not judgmental when I was embarrassed and I quickly learnt to not worry how I was going to say something, but just learnt to say the truth and how I felt. I saw Mike, with and without my partner for around 6 months. I feel at ease to contact Mike in between sessions and know I could book in with him at any point, which I intend to do to make sure I am keeping on top of things. I really feel like I can’t express how much Mike has helped me and how my mind unravelled bit by bit after each session and I am extremely grateful to Mike.

I first went to Michael in May of last year, after having a terrible start to the year, a year which got progressively worse. I had a counselling session in the February with another counselor who had not done anything to help me feel better, and as such dented my faith in counselling as a whole. Michael however changed all that, by being compassionate, understanding, confidence building, but above all else, and most importantly, genuinely caring. In each session I had with Michael i left the room feeling progressively and lower better, and I have learned so much from him. He has helped me to come to terms with things that I can’t control and above all gave me someone that I could go to who listened and helped me on the path to healing. I’ve had several counselling sessions over the last 13 years, but Michael is the counselor that has help me me the most, and none of the other counselors have helped me to understand myself better. In every session I felt relaxed, understood, and above all cared about. I would recommend Michael above all others, and he can genuinely help anyone with whatever dilemma they are facing. Thank you so much Mike for everything you have done for me. Jason - Northern Moor

I first went to Michael in May of last year, after having a terrible start to the year, a year which got progressively worse. I had a counselling session in the February with another counselor who had not done anything to help me feel better, and as such dented my faith in counselling as a whole. Michael however changed all that, by being compassionate, understanding, confidence building, but above all else, and most importantly, genuinely caring. In each session I had with Michael i left the room feeling progressively and lower better, and I have learned so much from him. He has helped me to come to terms with things that I can’t control and above all gave me someone that I could go to who listened and helped me on the path to healing. I’ve had several counselling sessions over the last 13 years, but Michael is the counselor that has help me me the most, and none of the other counselors have helped me to understand myself better. In every session I felt relaxed, understood, and above all cared about. I would recommend Michael above all others, and he can genuinely help anyone with whatever dilemma they are facing. Thank you so much Mike for everything you have done for me. Jason - Northern Moor

I contacted Mike a few months ago after myself and husband had been through a rocky patch...so rocky I had tried to contact Citizens Advice to see what my rights were on separation and the children. We had tried a renowned couples’ counselling based in Manchester, but they let us down badly by cancelling appointments and not conducting sessions how you would imagine. We would leave the sessions there in a worse state of turmoil. Even thought I had promised myself that was our last chance, I didn’t think our problems had been addressed properly. I found Mike and we arranged an appointment...even after 1 initial consultation he had done more for us than in the 4 sessions with the previous company. My partner is a very proud man so the fact I could see him listening to Mike and actually taking things in was AMAZING. Mike would only say things sometimes I had said, but he would listen to Mike and take it on board. Mike would be accommodating around our busy lives and totally give us 150%. I went to my 1st meeting with Mike hating my husband, but after only half a dozen sessions we realised we do still love each other. We even had a dance this evening to our wedding song at home. Time is precious nowadays and so is money, but so is life! So if you are going to spend the money you haven’t got and the time you haven’t got, make sure it is with Mike. You only live once...do it happily :)

From the initial nervous dialogue to the most mindful of discussions, Mike Davies exudes a true sense of assurance and warmth with his clients. He is a man of great understanding capable of dealing with other peoples issues on a very personal level. For me, over the course of two months, he has managed to help me help myself overcome issues that have blighted me for a good year and a half. His counselling and his teaching do not just exist within the four walls in which he holds his sessions though, his sensitive yet professional approach aid in empowering the client to practice techniques in the time between seeing him leading to a bolstered belief in the sometimes most troubled of minds. I would highly recommend Mike to anyone seeking help with any issues. He is a exceptional professional as well as an exceptional person. I thank him wholeheartedly for changing my life and my perceptions.

I started my sessions with Mike 8 months ago when my marriage was in a major crisis. Although i did the therapy on my own, without my wife, it still helped me a lot understanding why the things went the way they went, and especially why my wife communicated in her way and what this did to me.. This journey let me to starting to realise in what state of mind I am and that I need to find my real me back.. The way Mike is helping me on this journey is absolutely great. Although I am not a british national, he understands my way of communicating, my culture and way of communicating very well. He keeps the right balance between listening and talking, directing and letting lose, using models and theories and sometimes just common sense...Aftter every session i feel relieved and feel that I am making process on the journey to go back to my real me...A long journey with ups and downs, but because of mike his support a pleasant one which will bring the best out of me... Thank you Mike for your great support !

I knew only a little about what CBT treatment for OCD entailed from hearing about it now and again. Over the 23 years I have been plagued with OCD and I have to admit I was put off by the thought of what I would have to do, to choose to face my fears. I would do everything possible to avoid my fears by ritualising; it was not an easy decision to make, as I would always put it off because I could cope and I learnt to just accept my OCD and live with it as secretly as I could. At the beginning of the year I got myself into such a bad place with my OCD that I could no longer go to work, thinking work was contaminated. I was off sick at home, then even being in my house started to become a major problem as contamination started to spread throughout my house. My world became so small and impossible that in the end I really had no choice but to seek help. Now I would recommend and even urge anybody that has OCD to consider CBT for combating OCD. Starting CBT and to think of the whole picture and the end goal is a scary thought, and one I didn’t really want to think about, but CBT work is based around tackling OCD by using rational thinking alongside exposure techniques, and by approaching the feared situation or object in a very slow and most importantly very safe way. I found it methodical in its approach although very workable, starting off with the lesser of the challenges that I had to face, working through the hindrances in my life up to the bigger demanding issues. I was encouraged to write a list and grade all the things that were a problem to me; it was a long list. We then took the lowest graded problem on the list, which to be honest at that time wasn`t that low and started to tackle that. I didn`t think I would be able to do it, logic goes out the window and all the emotions take over. For me it was like stepping over a line I had created and throughout the years told myself I must not cross that line or it will result in me feeling contaminated and I would then have to wash in a ritualised way to be safe. With the help of my councellor who had armed me with some CBT techniques and with a big spoonful of courage I started to tackle that first problem. I eventually stepped over the line I never wanted to cross; it was like going into the unknown. The need to wash and go do a ritual was really high. It felt very strange not to go do my usual routine. Lots of thoughts of contamination ran through my mind, and I needed a lot of reassurance to know that it was ok and safe not to wash. One CBT technique is to write your own logical statements. I found this extremely helpful, useful and effective to get through those moments. Even though we had started on the lesser problems in the smallest easiest way, it was still very difficult and worrying for me. With continual gradual exposure practice, it did eventually get better, until eventually the lesser problems I had down the hierarchy items list of exposures was actually ok and the issue with that object or situation had disappeared. Conquering one issue after another in these low level exposures gave me the confidence to tackle the next higher one. I could build on that achievement and recognised that if I can do that one then I can face the next. Each step has been a challenge for me, and each time I`ve had to cross that line that I didn`t want to cross. But amazingly, I was able to, in a way that was manageable for me. I have learnt and am still learning to get used to that feeling of not needing to wash, as I now know that it’s the rituals that keep the OCD alive. It has taught me that it is ok not to ritualise. And the more I challenge the rituals, the weaker the OCD becomes. I had a lot of challenges on my list, and at the beginning the really scary top challenges I thought would be an impossibility to attempt; but as I went through facing all my other challenges I started to gradually notice a change in how I viewed the bigger really scary issues. I started to think that there is a possibility that I will be able to tackle them, whereas in the beginning they were an absolute no no. I have been able to rely on the successes I have achieved which have helped me with the next step; They have become a platform to move up from if you like. Returning to work was one of the big scary challenges I thought would be impossible. I am pleased to report I have now started back at work. My list is not yet completed, I am still tackling my bigger issues, it is a work in progress. I do get little things that crop up and bother me now and again, but I now have the CBT skills to use so I can handle it much better. CBT has re trained my brain and way of thinking. I have been successful in tackling issues I have had for years which I never thought I would. CBT has most definitely opened my world back up again of which I am so so thankful for.

I contacted Mike after a lifelong (I’m 38) struggle with eating disorders, depression, self-esteem issues and a muddle of guilt and anxiety. I had received extended counselling before, both general talk-therapy and in the form of CBT through the NHS, private counsellors and through an eating disorders clinic. Although most of these routes helped me to deal with issues, I have always felt there was something missing. The coping strategies I employed over the years enabled me to successfully mask the problems and function well within society, but inside I still felt worthless and unhappy. Bouts of depression continued to plague me. I went for introductory sessions with a number of counsellors. I chose Mike because he was knowledgeable, warm, focussed and competent. From the beginning, he challenged my way of thinking in an environment where I felt safe to explore some deeply-ingrained thinking patterns. I was well-practiced in saying ‘the right thing’ to counsellors but really thinking something else entirely! Mike was able to see around this and gently nudge me towards seeing the bigger picture for myself. Now, I feel as if I am on a different path. I am still working on a lot of habitual patterns of thinking, but Mike has helped me to establish a variety of skills to cope with the ever-changing ebb and flow of life. I feel that Mike has given me many more strategies that let me deal with the problem in hand rather than pushing it away. I am much more able to stick with the present, rather than spiralling down into a whirlwind of guilt about the past and anxiety about the future. I am not hugely impatient to have everything right, I am secure in the knowledge that I’m doing the best thing for me right here, right now. With Mike’s help, everything is calmer. I am becoming skilled at relaxing into life, and enjoying each day. I am extremely grateful to Mike and would whole-heartedly recommend him as a counsellor.

I approached Mike after a difficult end to a relationship and he has helped me regain my self worth, and understand myself and others around me a lot better. Mike has introduced new ideas to me and new ways of thinking about things and helped me untangle so much that was churning around in my head. The sessions I have had with Mike have been arguably one of the best things I have chosen to do in my life, and I feel stronger and better prepared for the future.

7 months ago my OCD that I have suffered with since I was 17, I am now 40, exploded and took over my life so much so I was unable to go into work because of it, my world became so small as it spiralled and gained control, I became confined to my house, then my house started to become what I felt then as contaminated, I was completing so many washing rituals that my hands were red raw and sore and my anxiety levels were so high, it was awful, the best thing I did was pick up the phone and make an appointment to see Mike. Mike has been brilliant in helping me and working with me using CBT. Mike has taught me the skills to change my way of thinking, in the beginning the thought of challenging my OCD was scary to say the least but everything has been done as Mike says in a very slow and most importantly safe way. The progress I have made has been immense, there has been a dramatic drop in my rituals, I may do the odd ritual now and again but not at the same anxiety level as before, and I am even starting back at work. I still have a few big steps to take which we are going to be working on but the work we have completed so far has taught me that I can do it! If you have OCD at any level I would recommend Mike, my OCD was at a severe level, Mike has helped my world to open back up again and I can`t thank him enough.

I have now finished my sessions with Mike - the last being in January and feel much happier,relaxed and in control of my life.The sessins helped me to understand a lot about my thoughts and feelings and Mike helped me deal with a lot of "baggage" from the past and my life is now focused on the present.I now tackle anxieties head on and do not dwell so much on worries as I know they are just negative thoughts. I do feel that Mike turned my life around and helped me sort things out in a sensible positive way. I now feel confident and excited about the future - something I hadn’t felt for a long time before.

I first contacted Mike a few weeks ago suffering from anxiey/depression and even after my first session knew I had found someone who could help me in a constructive way.Mike has helped me understand and work through a lot of difficult issues from my past and worked with me to create stratergies to deal with situations and problems which were causing stress and anxiety.I now understand a lot more about myself,my feelings and thoughts and have been able to return to work which at the start of my anxiety problems seemed impossible.I still have some issues to address but am confident that with further couselling and help from Mike I will get there!