Dave considers it a privilege to work collaboratively with children and adolescents as they navigate the difficult journey of growing up. His approach with his clients is to accept them where they are, and he considers himself more of a coach than counselor working in collaboration to reach their goals.
Dave has training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Illness and Recovery Management Therapy, Relationship Based Care, Co-occurring disorders and Applied Behavioral Analysis. He has been a life-long resident of Kent County working as a therapist providing individual, family and group therapy for over 25 years.
Dave completed his undergraduate degree at Calvin College, earned his Master degree in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University, and a certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology. He also has Master’s degree in Management from Aquinas focusing on Organizational Management.
Dave’s experience includes working with children, adolescents and young adults in outpatient clinics, partial hospital programs and inpatient hospitalizations. He has been a college professor, Sunday School teacher, and disaster relief volunteer. He also presents on various topics of parenting, childhood mood disorders and anxiety, ADHD/ADD, Integrating special need populations into work, church and school environments, self-injurious behaviors and suicidality.
Dave loves reading mystery novels, watching action movies, kayaking, camping, fishing, hunting, and working outside. He has a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and continues to compete at the state and national level.
His specialties include serving child and adolescent clients with:
- Adolescent Adjustment Problems
- Anger Management
- Anxiety Disorders
- Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Child and Adolescent Behavior Problems
- Co-occurring disorders
- Depression
- Grief and Loss
- Parent/Child conflict
