Hi, I’m David!
I’m a play therapist who works with children, tweens, and teens. I genuinely enjoy working with kids and getting to know who they are, whether that means playing a game, talking about their favorite interests, or just giving them space to be themselves. I believe therapy with kids and teens should feel like a place where they can relax, have fun, and feel safe enough to be honest about the things that are hard.
I often use play therapy because play is one of the ways kids naturally make sense of the world and communicate what they’re experiencing. I also work closely with parents, because I believe supporting a child means supporting the relationships around them, too. I use PCIT and family therapy approaches to help parents better understand what their child may be communicating, strengthen connection, and feel more confident navigating difficult moments together.
I’m especially interested in working with children and teens navigating anxiety, neurodivergence, trauma, big emotions, and changes at home or school. I take a trauma-informed and neurodivergent-affirming approach, and I try to stay curious about the whole child rather than focusing only on the behavior that brought them to therapy.
The Values That Guide My Work
Behavior is communication
Every behavior (a meltdown, a shutdown, a push toward conflict, etc.) has a meaning underneath it. When we understand what a child or teen is actually trying to say, we can meet that need in a far more helpful way.
Play is serious work
For children, play isn't a break from the real world; it is their world. The playroom is where children make sense of their experiences, process what's hard, and begin to heal.
Relationships heal
Children and teens don't heal in isolation. Safe, attuned relationships with a therapist, a parent, or a caregiver are the most powerful forces for change available to us.
Parents are part of the
process
A child's growth doesn't happen in a vacuum. When parents feel more connected, more confident, and more understood, children feel it too. I see parents as essential partners in the therapy space.
Neurodivergence is a
strength
I work with a lot of neurodivergent children and teens, and I approach that work from a place of empowerment. My goal is to help them understand themselves and thrive as who they are.
Teens deserve a space of
their own
Adolescence is hard, and many teens have never had a space that's genuinely theirs. I offer a judgment-free zone without pressure or expectations from others.
Education & Training
MA in Couples and Family Therapy from Seattle University
Graduate training with a focus on children, teens, and families
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist Associate (LMFTA)
License #: MG.70042031
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) Training
Trained under a clinical psychologist specializing in child and adolescent anxiety, OCD, and neurodivergence
Supervised by a Certified Autism Clinical Specialist
Ongoing supervision bringing specialized expertise in autism, ADHD, and AuDHD to my practice
Registered Play Therapist (RPT), Candidate
Completing specialized play therapy training under an LMFT, RPT-S, and Certified Autism Clinical Specialist
Outside the Office
When I’m not working, I’m usually spending time with my partner and our two dogs, Pepper (right) and Nala (left).
I recharge by getting outside whenever I can. Backpacking trips and playing ultimate frisbee help me reset and feel rejuvenated.
At home, you’ll often find me in the kitchen cooking or baking. Sharing food, spending time with loved ones, and being outdoors are some of the ways I stay grounded both in and out of the therapy room.
