About-David-Tyson--LCSW

In my Psychotherapy and Counseling practice, I provide personalized, goal-directed and experiential therapies for clients who want to expand their coping skills, repair and improve relationships, and/or become more effective in their school/workplace. I tailor personal and interpersonal awareness and mindfulness practices, gestalt, ego state psychodynamic, family systems and solution oriented brief cognitive therapies to help clients through struggles. I employ Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) for traumatic experiences; clinical hypnosis for pain management, IBS and other somatic complaints; and meditation to help clients grow in awareness and mindful access to inner strengths and resources. I work to help clients realize personal freedom, joy and fulfillment through their life circumstances.

Consultation services help clients explore alternatives to resolving their conflicts, including definition and clarification of issues, increased appreciation for various options, and discussion of potential outcomes. I help parents write healthy and workable co-parenting plans: Parenting planning includes considerations for access schedule options, dealing with high needs (if present), writing a tailored plan to your specific family configuration, interests and values, and remaining available to help you through implementation.

As a Collaborative coach, I help clients work through concerns and struggles encountered in the separation and divorce process. I listen to and help you identify and voice your interests and coach you to bring your best self to this very challenging time of life. Using the Collaborative team model I work to forge a future both clients and their children can live with, and help co-parents create effective parenting plans that promote the children’s healthy emotional, social and cognitive (including academic) development.

I believe in the inherent worth of every individual, the sanctity of our personal freedom, and responsibility for our choices. I enjoy helping people struggle well to live more fully - learning, recovering and growing. I fulfill these beliefs and interests as a second career Licensed Clinical Social Worker in private coaching and psychotherapy practice in Vienna, Virginia, the District of Columbia and Bethesda, Maryland. I am a strengths-based, systems and solution oriented mental health clinician, counselor and coach, working with individual adults and adolescents, couples, families, and groups. I am a Christian counselor and utilize Biblical principles, prayer, and Spirit direction in all my work. For those who express an interest or desire for it, I offer spiritual formation work.

After gaining my Master’s in Social Work (MSW) at National Catholic School of Social Services (NCSSS), I helped those suffering serious mental illness, addiction, and their families in the inpatient psychiatric hospital and outpatient community mental health settings. I completed post-graduate training in Gestalt and Object Relations Psychotherapy at the Gestalt Therapy Training Center, in Washington, DC.

During my first career, I served as a naval aviator, squadron commander, and senior leader, retiring as a Navy Captain. I was a post-graduate Professor of Behavioral Sciences at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, where I taught, assessed and counseled senior military and government service men and women.

I provide mediation services, including mediation/arbitration, as a sole or co-mediator to facilitate out-of-Court resolution of differences, including parenting plans, personal and civil matters. I am a Certified Christian Conciliator, certified by the Institute for Christian Conciliation, a division of Peacemaker Ministries.

Separately, I provide elective or court ordered Parent Coordination services, helping clients work out co-parenting concerns. I promote increased awareness and consideration of children’s needs, a present and future orientation, and help co-parents make decisions that promote their children’s welfare. Some couples and Court orders authorize me to make decisions when the parents cannot work out a decision.

I am an experienced Executive Coach and practiced in team-building, optimization of personal strengths and change management. I am Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) certified, and use that instrument with adolescents and adults to help identify strengths, increase self-esteem, understand others, and build motivation in pursuing academics, job fit and improved relationships. The MBTI can be used individually or in small groups.

Please call me: 202-957-8045. I look forward to discussing with you how I might be of assistance. I provide an initial phone interview at no charge.

David

Education and Professional Affiliations

Education:

Post-graduate certificate in Psychoanalytic Object Relations and Experiential Psychotherapy

The Gestalt Psychotherapy Training Center (Washington, D.C.) – April 2006

Master of Social Work (MSW), Clinical Concentration

National Catholic School of Social Services (NCSSS), Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. – May 2004

Master of Sciences in National Resource Strategy

Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF), National Defense University (NDU), Washington, D.C. – June 1997

Master of Human Relations and Personnel Management

Webster University, St. Louis, MO – May 1982

Bachelor of Sciences in Mathematics

U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD – June 1975

Professional Affiliations:

National Association of Social Workers (NASW)

International Association of Collaborative Professionals (IACP)

Board member, Virginia Collaborative Professionals (VaCP)

Board member, Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia (CPNV)

Board member, DC Academy of Collaborative Professionals (DCACP)

Maryland Collaborative Practice Council (MCPC)

Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC)

North American Association for Christian Social Workers (NACSW)

Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS)