Registered Social Worker

About David

When I was 20, I was happily working as a carpenter's apprentice. A social worker friend of mine envisioned a different career path for me, however. Convinced that I would be good at helping people, my friend arranged for me to observe a residential treatment program. That visit started me on a lifelong path of helping others and I've worked as a psychotherapist with adults and families since 2007.

My Approach

Typically, I work together with a person over the first few sessions to come up with a plan to tackle the agreed upon problem. Most of my work follows a clear arc: we identify the problem, we build a plan, and we work it. I believe that without clear goals, and a plan to get there, therapy can drift and be less impactful.

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It is also important to provide a safe and supportive environment for people to express their concerns. I believe a good therapist finds a way to balance understanding and support with guidance and practical skills. Seeing people make real progress — especially on problems they've been carrying for a long time — is what I find most rewarding about this work.

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The two approaches I rely on most are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Schema Therapy. CBT is practical and present-focused — it looks at the patterns of thinking and behaviour that are keeping you stuck, and gives you concrete tools to change them. Schema Therapy goes a little deeper, and is particularly useful when the same problems keep showing up in different areas of your life — especially in relationships. Together, they cover a lot of ground.

Couples

Maybe you are seeking counselling because you are having a communication problem. Perhaps the same argument keeps happening, one or both of you feels chronically unheard, and you end up feeling more distant, discouraged and lonely.

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CBT helps each of you identify and interrupt the cycles that keep you stuck. Schema Therapy gets at the deeper patterns — why you react the way you do, and why certain things affect you the way they do. We'll figure out together which approach fits best, based on your goals for therapy. If you want practical tools to change specific behaviours and communication patterns, CBT is likely a good fit. But if you're looking to understand why the same dynamics keep repeating — in this relationship or across your life — Schema Therapy may be the better starting point.

​Adults

Maybe you are dealing with depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, or something that has just been weighing on you for a long time without a clear name. Whatever it is, there is usually a pattern underneath it that can be identified and addressed. If you want practical tools and measurable progress, to feel less anxious, function better day to day, and have concrete strategies you can use on your own, CBT is likely a good fit. If you've tried things before and keep finding yourself back in the same place, Schema Therapy goes deeper, helping you understand the root of those patterns so they stop running the show. We'll figure out together what makes sense for your situation.

Specialized Training in Evidence-Based Protocols

I completed a Master of Social Work in 2007 and have pursued advanced clinical training ever since, including direct mentorship from Dr. Janet Klosko, a leading expert in CBT and Schema Therapy. That training gives me the ability to work with even the most complex and long-standing problems in a structured, evidence-based way, so that we are never just guessing at what might help.

If you are struggling with something that is limiting your happiness and satisfaction with daily life, I hope you will give me the opportunity to help.

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Please reach out and schedule a time. I am currently available for both in-person and virtual sessions.​