Your therapist in Newtown, PA.
Choosing a therapist is mostly a question of fit. Here’s enough to decide whether it’s worth a phone call.
Dave, LCSW
Dave is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, practicing in Newtown. He works from the framework that no one needs to navigate the difficulties of life alone.
Life often brings unexpected results. The strong emotions that come with anxiety, depression, and trauma can push us toward behaviors and situations that help us cope in the moment. When those behaviors become unsafe, or stop fitting the life you actually want, finding your way back on your own can be difficult.
What Dave offers is an environment that is safe, compassionate, and collaborative — one built to draw out the individual strengths that do the real work of healing emotional scars. At the core of the work is a collaborative, person-centered approach. He draws on EMDR, CBT, DBT, and a range of other techniques rather than applying one method to everyone, so that the approach fits the person in the room. The goal throughout is that your individuality and your life experiences are honored as the two of you work toward healing.
His professional experience includes working with people navigating substance use disorder, trauma, eating disorders and disordered eating, men working through anger, isolation, and the pressure to handle things alone, LGBTQI+ clients, and children and adolescents — creating, in each case, a safe and collaborative environment for change.
Sessions are available in person in Newtown and virtually upon request.
What the work tends to look like.
The first session
Mostly listening and collaboration. Intake information is provided in advance rather than using up part of your first hour for it. Your first session goes straight into what you want to be different and whether this is the right room for that — or straight into the presenting issue, if you’d rather start working right away. Sessions run 60 minutes for adults and 45 minutes for clients under 18. You are not obligated to tell your whole story on day one.
Pacing
Trauma work that moves faster than the nervous system can tolerate isn’t brave, it’s counterproductive. Stabilization comes before processing, every time.
Structure
Some clients want a clear framework and homework between sessions. Others need the hour to be unstructured. Both are legitimate, and the plan gets built around which one you are. The goal is always your eventual independence from therapy, not indefinite attendance.
Ready for day one?
Reach out by phone or email with questions, or to find a time for a first session.