Strengths-Oriented
For too long, traditional psychology had been almost exclusively concerned with treating "illness" and helping people feel "normal" again (I've used quotation marks because I don't support the use of either of these terms). This approach pathologizes understandable life problems and overlooks people's strengths. It also ignores one of the key reasons people often seek therapy: we want to be happy, find hope, and access life purpose and meaning.
One of my passions is to help people feel hopeful and in control of their lives, experience growth, and embrace life. I've worked with individuals coping with depression, anxiety, and loss, as well as patients and families facing cancer, heart disease, spinal cord injury, and countless other medical conditions. As a professor and writer, I’ve spent almost two decades investigating important human strengths like hope, well-being, and life meaning. I’ve published over 70 articles and chapters on these topics in professional journals and volumes, as well as written five books, including Supersurvivors: The Surprising Link Between Suffering and Success (HarperCollins Publishers, 2014) and The Science and Practice of Positive Psychology (Cambridge University Press, 2022).
None of this means my approach is all about rainbows and kittens. To be clear, life can be very hard. If you’re reading these words, it’s probably because you’re facing difficulty in your own life right now. I won’t pretend there’s a magical "cure-all," as much as I'd like there to be. My first priority will always be to help you to find practical solutions and discover ways to cope. But, why stop there? I also strive to help you nurture your strengths and discover greater satisfaction in life.
For too long, traditional psychology had been almost exclusively concerned with treating "illness" and helping people feel "normal" again (I've used quotation marks because I don't support the use of either of these terms). This approach pathologizes understandable life problems and overlooks people's strengths. It also ignores one of the key reasons people often seek therapy: we want to be happy, find hope, and access life purpose and meaning.
One of my passions is to help people feel hopeful and in control of their lives, experience growth, and embrace life. I've worked with individuals coping with depression, anxiety, and loss, as well as patients and families facing cancer, heart disease, spinal cord injury, and countless other medical conditions. As a professor and writer, I’ve spent almost two decades investigating important human strengths like hope, well-being, and life meaning. I’ve published over 70 articles and chapters on these topics in professional journals and volumes, as well as written five books, including Supersurvivors: The Surprising Link Between Suffering and Success (HarperCollins Publishers, 2014) and The Science and Practice of Positive Psychology (Cambridge University Press, 2022).
None of this means my approach is all about rainbows and kittens. To be clear, life can be very hard. If you’re reading these words, it’s probably because you’re facing difficulty in your own life right now. I won’t pretend there’s a magical "cure-all," as much as I'd like there to be. My first priority will always be to help you to find practical solutions and discover ways to cope. But, why stop there? I also strive to help you nurture your strengths and discover greater satisfaction in life.
David B. Feldman © 2024