Well-being. Self-insight.
Counselling approaches.
What is David’s approach to counselling?
David has close to two decades of experience in various counselling and clinical supervisor roles.
Below you will find a description of therapeutic approaches that David is most familiar with in his work with individuals.
Areas of support:
Childhood trauma & PTSD
Anxiety, phobias, OCD, & panic attacks
Couples Counselling
Grief & loss
Depression
Existential distress
Burnout recovery
End-of-life matters
Somatic Therapy
David combines his background in early childhood development, attachment theory, trauma neurobiology, and polyvagal theory to support clients in developing embodied insight and healing from trauma.
He completed a two-year professional training in Somatic and Attachment Psychotherapy with Dr. Lisa Mortimore and Stacy Adam Jensen, M.Ed., at Bringing the Body Back into Practice in Victoria, BC (bringingthebody.ca). He also trained in EMDR with Dr. Amanda Bell and colleagues in London, Ontario (amandabell.ca).
David emphasizes an embodied approach to psychotherapy—integrating mind, body, and emotion within talk counselling. In a safe and supportive space, he helps clients attune to unresolved emotions and facilitates integration through somatic self-inquiry, grounding practices, and meaning-making.
He also guides clients in working with challenging emotions like anger, shame, guilt, and fear. Many are surprised by the depth of resolution and clarity that can emerge through somatic work.
Psychodynamic Therapy
David’s therapeutic work is grounded in a thoughtful integration of relational and psychodynamic philosophies. In each session, he guides clients through an exploration of how past experiences shape present-day behaviors, particularly unconscious patterns that may be limiting growth or well-being.
He pays close attention to the complex interplay of broader systems—family, institutions, communities, and culture—and how these forces shape our sense of self and relationships with others. By helping clients uncover these often-hidden influences, David supports them in gaining greater awareness as a vital step toward healing and transformation.
At the heart of David’s practice is the belief that lasting well-being emerges from deepened self-understanding. As clients begin to recognize the roots of their behaviors and beliefs, they become more empowered to make intentional choices, fostering a life that is both meaningful and purpose-driven.
ACT & CBT
David offers a thoughtful integration of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), drawing on both approaches to tailor support to each client’s unique needs.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, developed by Dr. Stephen Hayes in the early 1980s, is an evidence-based psychotherapy that emphasizes acceptance, mindfulness, and values-based action. David completed his ACT certification in 2016 with Dr. Hayes in Toronto, Ontario. His approach with ACT supports clients in building psychological flexibility and making meaningful, values-aligned changes in their lives.
David also incorporates principles from the Cognitive Behavioural Therapy tradition, informed by the work of Dr. Judith S. Beck. CBT focuses on the dynamic relationship between thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. David helps clients identify and shift unhelpful cognitive and behavioural patterns in ways that foster improved emotional well-being and resilience.
Narrative Therapy
David is a dedicated practitioner of narrative therapy, having completed an intensive certification with Karen Young, MSW, RSW, at the Windz Centre in Oakville, Ontario in 2017. He has since continued to deepen his understanding of this approach through ongoing study and skill-building workshops.
Originally developed in the 1980s by Michael White and David Epston, narrative therapy is known for its anti-oppressive, client-centred focus. This therapeutic model helps individuals separate themselves from their problems, enabling them to examine challenges more objectively. By seeing problems as distinct from the self, clients are better able to recognize the influence of external factors and uncover new perspectives and possibilities.
David values narrative therapy for its empowering lens: it invites clients to draw upon their own innate wisdom and life experience. In sessions, he uses narrative practices to help individuals reclaim authorship of their stories and move toward lives shaped by choice, agency, and meaning.
Relationship with Nature
David’s clinical work and research is deeply influenced by his personal connection to nature.
After becoming a mental health provider, David began to recognize the negative impacts of society’s disconnection from the natural rhythms and wisdom of nature.
In a world that has become increasingly socially isolated and disconnected from our natural, embodied states, David has become very passionate about drawing from the inspiration and wisdom of nature to help clients reconnect with themselves and others.
For instance, David draws upon the ecological perspective of interdependence, helping individuals to heal holistically by integrating the parts of self that have been disavowed or alienated due to trauma.
As we learn to reclaim the parts of ourselves that have become wounded or alienated in the past, we are more likely to develop a greater awareness of belonging within the broader community - helping to heal the isolation that is often caused by trauma.
David also works with the imagery of nature to help clients rediscover a sense of connection and rest within the broader ecosystems to which we all ultimately belong.
David is conscientious of the historical impacts of colonization on present-day social and sustainability concerns. David recognizes the importance of reconciliation with Indigenous, First Nations, and Inuit communities as an essential part of facilitating social and cultural healing.