Share via email
Hello, my name is David Wieder. I am licensed as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Utah and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Idaho. I have been working in mental health for over 20 years.
My approach
My approach is to do trauma-informed depth psychotherapy work. This involves developing an understanding of each client in their own relational and cultural context, which is narrative therapy. I encourage clients to develop mindfulness and somatic based self-healing practices. I teach interpersonal communication skills to help clients with their relationships.
My focus
I do psychotherapy with clients age 14 and older. I also offer couples and family counseling. I have worked with individuals and families with a wide range of mental health concerns. If you have an issue that you believe is less common we can discuss whether or not I am the best fit as a therapist.
My communication style
I believe that the central process of talk therapy is for the therapist to tell the client what they are thinking and feeling, to honestly convey themselves. The client learns to vulnerably convey themselves to the therapist from the modeling provided by the therapist, and improves their ability to pay attention to others. I can be quite direct, and this may be challenging, but every interaction we have is an opportunity to create depth and strength in our relationship. This is training for you to do this in your other relationships.
My journey to mental healthcare
I come from a family with a lot of intergenerational trauma - war refugees, abandonment by parents, sexual trauma, addiction, and suicide. My first step on the path to becoming a therapist was to learn how to manage my own anxiety and depression. Working in mental health treatment has lead me to an understanding of my own inner workings, and it continually reminds me of where I can get myself into trouble. What keeps me in this field is a desire to share what I know, because it feels good to help others.
My goals for you
It's important to understand what therapy is and what it can do, and how that relates to the issues each client, couple, or family is going through. When clients are experiencing acute distress our first step is to figure out how to help resolve the crisis at hand, which can take time and effort. Making sure there are clear actions steps and looking for alternatives when something isn't working is key. For clients addressing long-term or non-acute issues, it is important to identify what they are working towards, and continually examine their process, so that therapy does not become repetitive and stagnant.
My first session with you
In a first session I want to hear about what's going on in the moment and what is the context for that situation. I need to develop a full understanding of how things got to where they are currently. If there is a pressing issue, such as intense anxiety, we will look at ways to become more emotionally regulated. That needs to happen before we can talk about the history or dimensions of a mental health issue. We might engage in some mindfulness or somatic exercises to help get to a place where we can talk.
