David Cummins, Counselor

read moreI am happy to say that I am not your "typical" therapist because I have found typical counseling and therapists to be relatively ineffective. My belief that traditional therapy being inadequate and my genuine desire to help people heal and grow has led me to get extensive training over the past 25 years in many modern and highly effective therapeutic approaches. Having improved and sharpened my skills, I commonly see quick, evident, and long-lasting improvement with the people I counsel. I regularly get feedback that I am highly effective, warm, fun, and down to earth as a psychologist.

read moreI grew up in a relatively dysfunctional Midwestern family that tended to love each other as best as we could. During my adolescence, which we could call the "lost" years, I was in and out of trouble. Fortunately my mother sent me on an Outward Bound Wilderness Course that challenged me in ways and opened my eyes up about myself and others that would serve me for the rest of my life. After getting my master's degree in psychology, I worked in an inpatient psychiatric unit where I learned a lot about good and bad mental health treatment.

read moreDo you not feel like yourself? Do you struggle to enjoy some of your favorite activities? Are you more irritable and moody? Do you lack energy and motivation? If so, you may be experiencing depression. Perhaps you have experienced some physical symptoms of depression, such as headaches, body aches or fatigue, as well as irregular sleeping and eating patterns. It's possible that your sadness has been triggered by having recently experienced a painful loss, such as the death of a loved one or the end of a relationship or career.

read moreLife can be very challenging and I half kiddingly say to clients, "No one gets out of childhood unscathed." Most of us have had some form of trauma in the past that has adversely impacted our lives and has continued to impact us. It is quite common for many of the problem issues in peoples' lives (depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, chaotic relationships, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, impulsivity, etc.) to be the result of traumatic experiences earlier in their lives. Many of these issues are either reactions to the trauma or attempts to cope with or avoid the trauma.

read moreWhile anxiety is the most common mental health challenge individuals face in the US, fortunately, it is also one of the most treatable. People often feel alone and ashamed of their anxiety, making it even more challenging to treat it. However, if you can move past that initial hurdle and seek anxiety treatment, you can effectively work toward lasting solutions to your social anxiety, phobias and panic attack disorders. Helping people overcome their anxiety is one of the main focuses of my practice.

read moreMy office building and I are taking necessary precautions that are consistent with standards of care to reduce exposure. I am more than happy to meet with you at my office, over zoom, or at Camel's Back Park. Feel free to call or email if you have any questions or would like to set up a time to meet. I will do my best to respond back to you as soon as possible. I believe that the right fit for counseling is one of the most important aspects of therapy. If we are not a good fit for any reason, I am more than happy to help you find a person that can meet your needs.

read moreI am not a "grief counselor" and I do not believe that going through and expressing the pain of loss is the way to help people feel better. Then what am I. I would have to say I am more of a Connection Therapist because I am more invested in deepening connection than going through pain. I believe that the reason that people feel "grief" is because society suggested that they must in order to be "normal" and that it is the result of our brains' difficulty in integrating a person's physical shift from their bodies in a more adaptive manner.

read moreHypnosis means different things to different people. Some people think that it sounds amazing and want to try it, while others are not so sure. This is understandable given how hypnosis is presented in mainstream entertainment where people appear to be doing things that are not in their control. You may be surprised to find that even in these situations, the people are actually in control of what they do and do not do. Hypnosis is not mind control. It is an enhanced state of awareness where people are in an open and relaxed state of mind where deeper positive changes can take place.