About David
Education:
Ph.D., Marriage and Family Therapy – Lee University, 2024
M.A., Marriage and Family Therapy – Richmont Graduate University, 2017
B.A., Secondary Education – Oakland University, 2002
About:
I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist in Georgia and Tennessee, and I’ve spent most of my adult life working with people—first as a high school teacher, and now as a therapist. I became a therapist because I wanted to do more than manage classrooms—I wanted to help people heal and grow in the relationships that matter most.
I work with couples, families, and individuals who want something to change but aren’t sure how to get there. I help people notice the patterns that are keeping them stuck, find what’s underneath, and move toward connection and healing.
My approach is trauma-informed and rooted in family systems, attachment science, and emotion-focused work. I often draw from Emotion-Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT). That means our work might include exploring past wounds, tuning into what your emotions are trying to tell you, or finding new ways to respond to old patterns.
I also have a special place in my heart for families raising children with special needs. I spent four years leading mental health services at Jacob’s Ladder Neurodevelopmental School in Roswell, GA, where I supported children with complex developmental and medical needs and their families. I recently completed doctoral research on how families raising children with severe disabilities experience support—and the lack of it—in their communities.
Before becoming a therapist, I taught high school for 15 years in public, private, and nonprofit settings. That experience still shapes how I understand families, schools, and the many roles people are trying to carry at once. I now offer consulting for schools and organizations looking to support mental health and create healthier systems.
I’ve been married to Jeannie since 2004, and we have three kids. Our middle son has profound disabilities and has taught us a lot about resilience, grief, joy, and love. When I’m not working, I’m usually writing, reading, or trying not to get injured while coaching my son’s basketball team.
If you’re looking for a space to slow down, be honest, and start untangling things, I’d be honored to walk with you.
“The relationships David has fostered with my students over the years have been life-changing. The impact he has made on my students is undoubtable. He builds rapport with great patience and takes time to listen well. The quote “knowledge speaks, wisdom listens” comes to mind when I think of David. He creates a trusted, safe place for my students to share and learn about emotions, empathy, mindfulness, and more.”
“David has built a beautiful and powerful framework of therapeutic offerings for our students who struggle with profound trust, safety, connection and relational issues.”
“David’s strong and creative leadership has not only transformed the students in our program, but also the staff that was there to support. His words and work built a culture of Hope, Truth, and Love. ”