Business Details
Empathy-Based Psychotherapy for Couples, Individuals & Families
With over four decades of dedicated practice, I have established myself as a leading psychotherapist specializing in empathy-based approaches to healing emotional trauma and strengthening relational connections. My work integrates contemporary Relational Psychoanalysis with a deep understanding of how disrupted attachment patterns impact emotional well-being, offering clients a transformative path to personal growth and healthier relationships. As both a licensed marriage and family therapist (MFT 20360) and an internationally recognized expert, I have taught extensively across four continents and authored multiple books that bridge psychoanalytic theory with practical therapeutic applications.My clinical supervision at the Wright Institute in Berkeley and faculty role at the Tampa Institute for Psychoanalytic Studies reflect my commitment to advancing therapeutic practices that prioritize empathic attunement. While maintaining a private practice in Berkeley, California, I continue to contribute to the field through my research, writing, and leadership in the Couples Therapy Interest Group of the International Association for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology. My dual identity as an award-winning poet enriches my therapeutic approach, incorporating the expressive power of language and metaphor to facilitate emotional healing and self-discovery.
Services
Couples Therapy
Individual Psychotherapy
Family Counseling
Clinical Supervision
Workshops & Lectures
Highlights and features
- We offer 40+ years of experience in relational psychotherapy and trauma recovery.
- Our approach integrates internationally recognized psychoanalytic theories with practical applications.
- We provide clinical supervision and training to advance therapeutic practices.
- Our team combines therapeutic expertise with creative insights from poetry and literature.
- We maintain active academic contributions through teaching and published research.
Associations and certifications
- California Board of Behavioral Sciences
Services
Couples Therapy
Specialized therapy for couples using Relational Psychoanalysis to address emotional disconnection and improve communication. Focuses on repairing attachment patterns and fostering mutual understanding. Helps partners overcome lifelong self-defeating cycles through empathic attunement.
Individual Psychotherapy
Trauma-informed treatment for individuals seeking emotional healing and personal growth. Utilizes empathy-based techniques to address disrupted attachment histories. Creates safe therapeutic environments for clients to develop self-awareness and healthier coping mechanisms.
Clinical Supervision
Professional development for therapists through clinical supervision at the Wright Institute. Combines psychoanalytic theory with practical applications. Focuses on enhancing therapeutic empathy and understanding unconscious relational dynamics.
Workshops & Lectures
International teaching programs on empathy-based approaches to psychotherapy. Covers topics from Relational Psychoanalysis to intersubjective systems theory. Designed for mental health professionals seeking advanced training in couples and family therapy.
Family Counseling
Systemic approach to improving family dynamics and communication patterns. Addresses intergenerational trauma and attachment disruptions. Helps families develop more empathetic connections and healthier relational frameworks.
People
David Shaddock
Psychotherapist, Poet, Clinical Supervisor
Licensed marriage and family therapist with 40+ years of experience. Internationally recognized expert in relational psychotherapy. Author of multiple books on couples therapy and poetry. Clinical supervisor at the Wright Institute in Berkeley, California.
Questions
What therapeutic approach do you specialize in?
I specialize in an empathy-based approach rooted in Relational Psychoanalysis, focusing on repairing emotional trauma and improving relational dynamics through empathic attunement.
Do you work with both individuals and couples?
Yes, my practice includes both individual psychotherapy and couples therapy, using similar principles of empathic connection to address different relational contexts.
What are your professional qualifications?
I hold a PhD in Psychoanalytic Research from Middlesex University, a Master's in Psychology from Antioch University, and am a licensed MFT in California (license # MFT 20360).
How does your poetry background influence your therapy practice?
My poetic sensibility enhances therapeutic listening and interpretation through heightened attention to metaphor, language patterns, and emotional resonance in client interactions.
Are you currently offering in-person sessions?
I maintain a private practice in Berkeley, California, though specific session formats may vary based on current circumstances and client needs.
