Beehind the Scenes with David Goodman, Counsellor

Some people slow down after retirement. David Goodman rewrote the script entirely.

After a successful 35-year business career in South Africa, David moved to the UK seeking more time with family, and unexpectedly found a new calling. At 70, he enrolled in a postgraduate counseling program and discovered a passion for helping others heal. He opened his own private practice, blending wisdom, empathy, and a powerful tech stack to support his work.

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A whole new chapter

David’s journey to becoming a Counsellor wasn’t conventional, and that’s exactly what makes it inspiring.

After relocating to the UK, he found himself struggling with the transition from entrepreneur to employee. At the same time, his girlfriend, who pivoted careers into foot therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic, became a spark of inspiration.

“She went from sales to launching her own practice, and I thought: why not me, too?”

David had spent years in group therapy himself and always admired the process. Encouraged by a former therapist, he found a local course in person-centered counseling, an approach that empowers clients to guide their own healing. He was accepted into a competitive postgraduate program surrounded by classmates nearly half his age.

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Back to school

While enrolled in the course, David volunteered with mental health charities, completed hundreds of placement hours, and tackled academic assignments for the first time in decades.

“I have never had to write an academic essay in my entire life. But it was the most fulfilling thing I’ve done. I wasn’t just learning skills, I was transforming.”

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Why it all matters

David creates space for transformation, one session at a time.

Through EMDR and person-centered counseling, he helps clients gently unpack trauma, find clarity, and rebuild trust in themselves. But he’s quick to share that the process is mutual.

“You see people changing before your eyes. But the truth is, you change too. Every session is a mirror,” he says. “That’s the beauty of this work.”

Whether he’s supporting adults navigating childhood wounds or helping clients manage anxiety and life transitions, David brings presence, patience, and lived experience into every session. It’s a far cry from boardrooms, and that’s exactly why it feels so right.

“This second career is closer to my heart than anything I’ve done before.”

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Powered by passion (and Zanda!)

When traditional counseling jobs didn’t materialize post-graduation, David decided to take the leap and open his own private practice. He leased a space in a local community center, created a website with help from his girlfriend’s network, and began seeing clients both in person and online.

But one challenge remained: finding a software platform that could handle the admin work while he focused on client goals.

“I’d used Cliniko during my placement, but I wanted something easier and more affordable. I found Zanda (then Power Diary) and it had everything I needed in one place.”

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Why Zanda works for David

As a new solo practitioner, David needed software that was:

• Affordable
• Simple to use
• Flexible for in-person and telehealth clients
• Versatile enough to handle note-taking, scheduling, invoicing, and client records

Zanda delivered.

“The learning curve wasn’t steep. I don’t consider myself super techy, but Zanda made it easy to get going. It’s been perfect, efficient, and wonderful.”

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BizzyAI: The game changer

David didn’t expect to fall in love with AI, but then came BizzyAI, an in-platform transcription and note writing tool purpose-built by Zanda.

“I joined a tutorial, tried it for two weeks, and was blown away. It saves time, captures the essence of the session, and even aligns with my person-centered style.”

BizzyAI allows David to:

• Focus fully on his clients during sessions without writing notes live
• Customize the tone and structure of his notes (e.g., person-centered vs. CBT)
• Send written summaries to clients when helpful
• Review notes before each session to stay grounded in the work

“It’s not my interpretation or the client’s, it’s a clean, objective summary. That’s incredibly powerful.”

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David’s pro tip for practitioners

David has discovered a meaningful way to extend the therapeutic value of each session by offering clients their BizzyAI-generated notes.

“I let my clients know I’m using BizzyAI, and with their consent, I share the notes. It’s not filtered through my lens, it’s just a clear, organized summary of our conversation. Some clients find it incredibly grounding.”

For many in David’s practice, reading a structured summary of their session helps deepen insight, spark reflection, or reinforce the progress made. For David, it’s become a seamless part of his person-centered approach.

His advice to fellow practitioners?

“Try sharing the session notes. You might be surprised how much clients appreciate it. It’s like giving them a mirror for their mind, and it builds trust.”

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Spreading the word

David doesn’t wait for people to find him. He shows up in the local press, on community radio, and through word of mouth, all to make therapy more approachable and to show others what’s possible later in life.

“I’ve spoken to groups of retirees, professionals, even young students,” he says. “Because I want people to know that healing is always possible, and so is starting over.”

David says the most powerful shift hasn’t been external. It’s a mindset.

“One counselor trainer said something I’ll never forget: ‘We don’t age, we sage.‘
That’s the mindset I live by now.”