Studio portrait of Danny against a grey background. Danny is wearing a black long sleeve t-shirt and glasses. They have long dark hair and are white. They are in their forties. Looking at the camera with a gentle smile.

Meet Danny Ford

(they/them)

I am a queer, non binary, qualified Integrative Psychotherapist and certified Mindfulness Teacher.

This work is my vocation, because therapy and meditation saved my life and opened me to a life of deeper connection, love and authenticity.

I consciously dedicate my professional life to supporting others on their own journey to self-discovery and healing.

Specialties

My practice focuses on:

  • TRAUMA

  • SELF-WORTH & SELF-JUDGMENT

  • GENDER IDENTITY

  • NEURODIVERGENCE

  • ANXIETY

  • PATTERNS OF PEOPLE-PLEASING

  • ESTABLISHING HEALTHIER BOUNDARIES

I work with people of all genders and sexualities. I'm experienced in working with issues relating to gender, sexuality and relationship diversity (GSRD).

My Therapeutic Approach

My approach to therapy is grounded in compassion, curiosity, and empathy. As an Integrative Psychotherapist, my approach is tailored to meet your unique needs.

I adopt an explorative and non-directive ethos, allowing you to set the pace and focus of our sessions.

This approach is underpinned by my conscious commitment to creating a safe, affirming space where you can explore your thoughts, emotions and experiences freely.

The people I work with tell me they value my open mindedness, gentleness, warmth and compassion.

Rebuilding Trust in Therapy

Many clients come to me after having had negative experiences in therapy previously, especially poly, trans, intersex and non-binary people.

I appreciate the courage it takes to re-engage with the therapeutic process after a bad experience. I'm committed to rebuilding trust and offering you a profoundly different experience - safe, affirming, and supportive.

Ethical Practice and Professional Accreditation

I am dedicated to upholding the highest professional and ethical standards as we navigate this journey together.

As a full clinical member of UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy) and an Accredited Professional registrant with NCPS (National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society), I adhere to the highest ethical standards.

My commitment extends to ongoing professional development, in which I’m currently focusing on neurodivergence, open and poly relationships, and GSRD.

My values

Everyone deserves a therapist who provides affirming and safe support.

I firmly believe in the transformative power of a safe and open therapeutic space that nurtures personal growth and understanding.

I have participated in specialist professional development training in the areas of neurodivergence, gender, sexuality and relationship diversity therapy, and open and polyamorous relationships.

I am a proudly affirmative therapist, specialising in gender, sexual and relationship diversity.

Being a therapist isn’t just a job for me; it’s my vocation. It is an honour to witness and support the healing journey of each one of the people I work with. I appreciate each and every one of them for trusting me with their story. That trust is not something I take lightly.

Approach to Client Care

To ensure I offer you the highest quality of care, I manage my caseload to be sustainable and allow for personalised attention to each client.

My own well-being is also a priority, maintained through a sustainable work schedule, daily self-care and connection with nature in rural North Yorkshire where I live.

My therapy room

Close up detail of decorative pieces in my therapy room
My therapy room
My therapy room
Close up detail of the window in my therapy room
Close up detail of my bookshelf in my therapy room
My desk in my therapy room
Parking and terrace area outside my therapy room
Outside - my therapy room is on the top floor

My approach to psychotherapy

My integrative approach is humanistic and integrates Gestalt and Feminist therapy among others.

A Feminist approach acknowledges the social and cultural influences of people’s pain and suffering due to living in a world dominated by a philosophy of individualism and a model of having “power over” others. Psychotherapy infused with a feminist perspective sees people as having equal worth regardless of their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity, etc.

Gestalt therapy holds that people intrinsically strive towards growth and balance in their lives. It focuses on increasing your awareness of the "here and now" to facilitate a deeper understanding of yourself. It looks at your past experiences as they relate to your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in the present.

Ultimately, my approach is tailored to you and the theory is in the background. What’s in the foreground is our therapeutic relationship, in which my core intention is allowing our relationship to serve you.

If my values and approach resonate with you, I encourage you to contact me with any questions you have about working with me or to book a free consultation to see if we feel like a good fit.

Self portrait in my therapy room. Sitting in a chair, with bookshelf and artwork in the background. Wearing a dark jumper and light blue jeans. I have long hair, glasses and I'm white and in my mid-forties.

My Professional Training

  • The Diploma in Integrative Psychotherapy is my core qualification in the practice of psychotherapy. It is therefore listed first. The additional trainings listed below are the most substantial extra trainings I have taken and are listed most recent first.

    I qualified as a therapist in 2016, having completed over 450 hours of supervised practice as a trainee therapist and 900 hours of training on a four-year modular course.

    I wish to thank Rob Tyson, my supervisor from 2011 to 2023, for everything he so generously taught me, throughout my years of training and beyond.

    His profound compassion, presence, integrity and commitment to anti-oppressive practice helped me become the therapist I am today.

  • I know just how difficult it can be to find a therapist who truly understands how to work with the complexity and diversity of Gender, Sexual and Relationship Diversity. 

    I'm committed to providing informed, inclusive, and compassionate therapy tailored to your specific needs.

    I'm taking this two-year self-paced course to learn from some of the leading thinkers and researchers in the field of GSRD (Gender, Sex and Relationship Diversity).

  • I'm delighted to have been part of the the first cohort of this, the UK's first in-depth training for therapists on working with people who are in open and poly relationships.

    The training is led by Niki D and Alex Sanderson-Shortt.

    Niki is a seasoned therapist and educator with over 30 years of experience. She is an Advanced Accredited GSRD (Gender, Sexual, and Relationship Diverse) therapist.

    Alex has written and taught on Relate’s Level 4 & 5 courses in Relationship Therapy for over 7 years.

    I'm enjoying this enriching and groundbreaking training. Niki and Alex are thoughtful, insightful and caring facilitators.

    The training has helped me to develop specialised knowledge and skills to support individuals in open and poly relationships. Although the training is now complete, I will continue to be part of the OpeningUpCPD community through ongoing supervision and alumni community. 

  • A one year mentorship in relational facilitation with Deborah Eden Tull.

    The mentorship was an intimate programme working closely with Eden individually and in a small group with a focus on personal growth, leadership training, and nurturing my ability to hold transformative group space.

    The training is based on the premise that your willingness to see clearly, with the heart, beyond the limited perception lens of the conditioned mind, is the most important foundation of wise and compassionate leadership.

    The mentorship training integrated teachings from Zen Buddhism and Eco-Dharma, Relational Mindfulness, The Work That Reconnects, and Regenerative Leadership.

  • Mentoring happens one to one and involves supporting people in their practice over time.

    This 9 week online training built on my mindfulness teacher training and focused on developing one to one and small group facilitation as a mentor.

  • A six-month facilitation training and mentorship with Deborah Eden Tull (Author of Relational Mindfulness).

    The training helped me to deepen my embodiment of presence, courage, deep listening, and relational intelligence.

    The paradigm of leadership taught in the course is not “power over” but “power with” or "shared power". 

    I participated in the follow-up one-year training Seeing with the Heart (now run as a six-month course).

  • A one-year professional training with Gabor Maté.

    Compassionate Inquiry is a psychotherapeutic approach created by Dr. Gabor Maté over several decades while working with both patients and retreat participants.

    The training helped me deepen my understanding of trauma, attachment and addiction.

  • I was part of the very first cohort of the Mindfulness Training Institute's mindfulness teacher training which took place at Sharpham House in Devon and online. To this day, the training holds a very special place in my heart.

    I'm authorised to teach mindfulness through Martin Aylward (Author of Awake where you are) and Mark Coleman (Author of Awake in the wild) who are both renowned meditation teachers in the Buddhist Insight Meditation tradition.

    This is an exceptional teacher training. It's an intimate, experiential and personally transformative experience in which I got to work closely with Martin and Mark, and learn from their decades of teaching experience. I would highly recommend this training of you're interested in teaching mindfulness.