Max Dalda Müller MBACP, PGDip (Couns), PGDipEd, QTLS.
BACKGROUND
According to numbers from the Office for National Statistics, one in four people experience a mental health problem in the course of a year. I used to be one of those individuals.
As a teenager, I struggled to adapt to changes in me and around me. My inability to cope with these challenges made me very anxious and, eventually, depressed. I dropped out of school and after that, for most of my adult life, I felt inadequate and worthless. I left Spain, the country I grew up in, and travelled around Europe. I lived in Spain, Germany, Sweden and eventually settled in London. However, I always brought my problems with me. These problems affected every area of my life, form my ability to relate to others, and manage everyday life to my capacity to hold down a job. I engaged in relationships which were unhealthy and downright damaging to me. I self-medicated with alcohol and drugs and developed dependencies. My downward spiral of depression and self-destruction took me to its logical ends of isolation and despair. I ended up homeless, roaming the streets of North London, surviving hand to mouth, totally and utterly destitute.
But then, one night in February 2007, a miracle happened. A Police Community Support Officer, called Michael Owusu, stopped me on the street and, after listening to my story, decided to help me. He put me in touch with an outreach worker for a charity called the Pillion Trust who help young homeless in the Islington area of North London. They in turn got me off the streets and into a rehabilitation programme.
My journey through rehab was painful and difficult but also rewarding and exciting. One of the more amazing aspects of it was the relationship I developed with my counsellor. For the first time in my life I felt heard and understood without conditions or judgement. I wanted to give this to other people. Because of the impact this relationship had on me, I decided to go into counselling training on completing my rehab treatment.
I was given the gift of an opportunity to turn my life around. A lot of people worked very hard to get me to that point.
I believe that we can only keep what we have if we give it away.
Everybody has the capacity in them to reach their full potential if they are given the chance. I aim to provide this by developing an accepting, empathic and genuine relationship, in which you can explore your difficulties and use your strengths to become the person you always wanted to be.
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EXPERIENCE
I became a fully qualified counsellor in 2011. I am a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and I have been in practice since 2010. Most of my professional practice has been in the addictions and mental health dual diagnosis field but I have recently moved into developing my own private practice.
I cut my teeth in the counselling profession at a rehabilitation centre for adults with addiction problems. I worked there between 2010 and 2015. This treatment centre is one of the best ones in the country and has a really good reputation in the addictions field.
Since 2013, I have been working at Bridgwater and Taunton College where I have been teaching as part of the counselling training provision at NVQ levels 2, 3, 4 and 5. I have also developed a pilot program for students with behavioural, social and emotional needs; this has been a successful program and its challenges have been a great learning experience for me!
In August 2019 I became Course Leader for the levels 2, 4 and 5 in counselling at Bridgwater and Taunton College, following a dear colleague’s retirement. This is a new challenge for me and I am very excited about it!
I have worked as a counsellor for Somewhere House Somerset, a charity offering affordable counselling in the Sedgemoor area until 2016. I have also been a director of Lighthouse Counselling Service CIC, a service in West Somerset, a service where we offer affordable counselling to those most in need in our local community. I gave up this role as a result of my new position as course leader at Bridgwater and Taunton College.
I have also been counselling adults with ASD through the National Autistic Society since 2015.
In 2014, I achieved a Level 5 Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector and I have been working as a teacher and trainer since 2013.
In April 2014, I started delivering Mental Health Awareness training to a variety of organisations, including Avon and Somerset Police, Probation Services, National Autistic Society and care organisations such as Brunel Care and CareWatch Wessex.
In 2015, I was given the opportunity to deliver mental health awareness training to 110 police officers from the Avon and Somerset Constabulary. It has been a real privilege to work with these officers but also to be able to return the gift that PCSO Michael Owusu gave me.
Having practised in all these varied settings has helped me develop excellent skills, self-awareness and an ability to respond to the varied needs of clients and presenting issues.
I feel that my personal and professional experience provides me with the rare perspective of being able to see things from the point of view of both helper and helped. I truly appreciate the difference which a bit of kindness, empathy and warmth can make to someone experiencing emotional and psychological distress. I was given a marvellous gift and I feel that the best way to return that favour is by using my experience and knowledge to support others.