David, while earning his master’s degree in counseling psychology, recalls a professor that made the statement, "Counseling is both a calling and a passion.” David firmly believes this statement. For years David worked in the business world, insurance, and banking. However, David was not satisfied with his career choice, working in the business industry. David has a fervent desire to develop new skills, to continue learning and pursue education. While working in the business field, David decided to take a psychology course to satisfy his thirst for knowledge. While taking a psychology course David accepted the challenge of his professor to make a career change, return to school to earn a master’s degree in counseling psychology. David has never regretted this decision to return to school, because counseling is both a calling and a passion.

David works best with clients aged 18 through 65+. David works with clients experiencing general disturbing issues as well as anxiety, depression, working with couples struggling with relationship issues, grief, and trauma. David also has experiencing working LGBT clients.

David is most excited to work with clients that realize they have issues and are willing and have the desire to address their problems in order to develop effective coping skills to improve their lives.

David wishes that clients understand that counseling is not a process to help “fix problems.” David hopes that clients understand that counseling is the process of identifying values that each person has and develop goals that allow each client to remain true to their values, and to achieve happiness and stability.

David wants to work at Thriveworks because Thriveworks is a professional organization that strives to honor and help each client.

David is inspired to continue to gain knowledge, develop new skills in order to better assist and help clients.

The first counseling session may be challenging but it is the beginning of developing a therapeutic relationship between David and the client. The beginning of a therapeutic relationship is the process of building trust. Building trust involves having the client feel safe and secure during the counseling session and that David will truly listen. David believes that building trust will be based upon the exchange of experiences of the client and David. David understands that counseling is the process of sharing intimate experiences and allowing the belief that David will not judge the client.

David wants the client to know he is empathetic, caring, a good listener. David will help the client achieve answers to their troubling issues by having the client discover what it is the client needs and help the client achieve their goals by utilizing the skills of the client.

David enjoys spending time with his family, going to the movies, watching TV, reading books, exercising, taking his dog for a walk, going to church.

David is a caring, loving person that has an intense desire to help others and to increase his talents and skills. Knowledge is never stagnant.