Trauma. A New Way to Heal.
– When therapy doesn’t work.
– When success still leaves you empty.
– You need something that actually works.Design For Life is that difference.
– Innovative. Proven. Quick.
– Your life back: peace, meaning, even fun.“I used 60 therapists before… The same process healed me after witnessing the murder of my Mum, aged 12”
AS FEATURED IN
How To Work With Me
Keynotes
Trauma. A New Way to Heal
When nothing else worked, I built a better way out of trauma. And it’s changing lives.
Trauma is everywhere. And most treatments don’t work.
Over 60% of adults are living with significant trauma.
I’ve lived it.
At 12 years old, I witnessed my mum’s murder.
On the outside, I looked like I had it all:
– Leading programmes at Jaguar Land Rover, Lloyds, and VWG
– Great family and friends
– Beautiful house
But inside, the trauma never left.
– Over 60 therapists. More than 30 therapies
– Alcohol, hospitals, rehab
– Nothing worked
Eventually, I went on a mission to discover what does work.
I rebuilt. I found peace, meaning, and freedom.
That process became Design For Life:
– A fast, innovative and unique way to heal
– Built from lived experience, not textbooks
– Designed to rebuild you with peace, purpose, and joy
The talk is raw, emotional, and delivered with warmth, humour and heart.
What audiences walk away with
A clear understanding of how trauma affects both mind and body, and why most treatments fail A fresh perspective on healing, with innovative tools to start leading their own recovery Hope for a brighter future, and even a few laughs along the way
What people say:
“Wow! What an evening. Dave’s story was inspiring. I’ve attended many speaker events, and this is one I’ll never forget. The room was gripped.”
Nick Ball
“Powerful and deeply insightful, and delivered with humour and warmth.”
Mark Senior
“Incredibly inspiring. I’ve never witnessed an entire audience that was totally awestruck.”
Darren Mackay
1:1 Coaching
Are You Carrying Trauma
And frustrated by treatments that don’t work?
You’re bright and successful, but can’t find the answers to healing.
You’re not alone. I was where you are:
– Therapy after therapy
– Diagnosis after diagnosis
– Still stuck
Eventually, I found a different way.
Now my life is beyond anything I imagined
Yours can be too
Design For Life is for you if you’re ready to lead your own healing.
Together, we’ll explore your life and rebuild it.
– Not just to survive
– But better than before the trauma.
You’re unique. Your solution will be too.
Design For Life is the framework we’ll use to make that happen.
You’ll feel:
– Lighter.
– Calmer.
– Excited about what’s next in your life.
There’s work to do, but it isn’t hard.
It’s interesting. It’s challenging. And it’s even fun.
We won’t stay stuck in the past.
But we will acknowledge it, understand it, and make peace with it.
If you’re ready to lead the design of your life, I’ll be right beside you.
Let’s begin the teamwork.
What people say:
“I consider Dave a natural-born psychotherapist.
At the core of his personality is a gentleness and kindness, combined with a steely insistence that life is good.
I can think of no one better to be steering the ship.”
Ben S
“It was staring me in the face… But I’d never looked at life this way. Everyone needs to know this stuff.”
Dave L“Truly insightful, I feel uplifted and motivated. I highly recommend”
Clare A
About Dave
had an idyllic childhood—climbing trees, building dens, racing around on bikes, and playing any sport we could get the kit for.
That changed at age 12, when I witnessed the murder of my Mum in our home. The man responsible was a colleague she was trying to help. Only luck and quick thinking saved me from the same fate.
As a family, we had no idea how to cope. After one day off school, we tried to carry on. I didn’t speak to my Dad about that night for 20 years. In the meantime, PTSD crept in and became unbearable.
I saw over 60 therapists and tried 30+ therapies. I was hospitalised multiple times, battled alcohol, and hit some dark places. From the outside, life looked successful. Inside, I was broken.
Everything began to change when I discovered self-leadership—when I realised that while I couldn’t change what had happened, I could change how I responded to it. That shift transformed my life.
Today, I live with purpose, resilience, and (mostly) a calm mind. The biggest stress in my life is following Leeds United—but I can live with that.
Now, I work with individuals and organisations to share what I’ve learned. My self-leadership programme, A Design For Life, helps people reset, rebuild, and lead themselves with courage, clarity, and meaning.