Hey! I'm David! I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor from Chicago. I'm a marathon runner, a dog dad, a forever student, and a member of the LGBTQIA community. As a career-changer from the medical field to working as a therapist, I get that life throws you curveballs sometimes. I provide a welcoming, affirming, and flexible environment for my clients to be themselves. I enjoy humor, and when appropriate, frequently use it during sessions.
My approach
I view concerns that bring people to therapy as part of the larger system that is being a human - my core therapeutic modality is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy because our thoughts truly influence how we feel and what we do. I am more direct in what I bring to the session and specialize in Obsessive Compulsive Disorders, Anxiety, and Depression and use Exposure and Response Prevention for OCD, Exposure Therapy for Anxiety, and Behavioral Activation for Depression. I incorporate a Person-Centered Approach into every session.
My focus
If you can tolerate moderate amounts of sarcasm and humor, when appropriate, and can be okay with my dog, Luke, joining in our sessions, we will get along just fine! I prefer a conversational approach, incorporating therapeutic tools along the way, and as a patient person, I just ask the same.
My communication style
Truly meeting the client where they are, I take a directive approach towards working towards your goals for therapy. I get that sometimes we all just need to process the day instead of focusing on a specific goal. I'm patient and observant and will call out the shoulder shrug, sigh, or tense posture. You will know I'm listening because I often will ask to discuss a statement a client made previously because it might be relevant to what the client is saying at the moment.