David shares how blindness, listening, education and a longstanding curiosity about why people think differently helped shape the way he approaches counselling.

David reflects on his role in counselling as walking alongside someone through difficult questions, feelings and change — offering guidance while the person retains ownership of their journey.

David reflects on why comparing one person’s pain with another’s can miss the point — physical, emotional and cognitive pain are experienced personally.

David explores how mood, assumptions and personal experience can influence what we hear — and why communication involves more than simply hearing another person’s words.

David explains active listening as reflecting, summarising and checking our understanding rather than assuming we already know what another person means.

Talking with someone you trust can be incredibly valuable. So what makes counselling different? David explores the distinct roles that friendship and professional therapeutic support can play.