David Henning, MFT

I assist individuals in reflecting on the origin and impact of their anxiety, shame or self-defeating attitudes. And, in couples counseling, I help partners to recognize how their communication patterns and self-protective behavior have affected the health of the relationship over time. Ideally, this process helps individuals recognize and separate from outdated attitudes and patterns of behavior. One hopeful byproduct and tool of therapy is self-acceptance. We learn to understand and free ourselves from the suffocating effects of shame. Acceptance frees up energy to pursue interests. And self-acceptance has little to do with approval of others. Through these conversations, people often discover how current and past relationships influence mood, self-esteem and motivation. It helps us to recognize and detach from emotions that have interfered with our growth.

My Approach

My style of work is active and exploratory. I tend to shy away from being directive though may suggest a focus during the session. It is striking how often individuals expect to be given directions for changing their life. At this time, I am meeting in-person at my Church St office, and via video conferencing. Please visit my contact page for my schedule.

About Boundaries and Relationships

Boundaries are crucial to the overall health of a relationship. In an intimate relationship, it is often challenging to negotiate independence and closeness. These two aspects of relatedness can seem mutually exclusive. But boundaries are the guardrails for respect and love. Without them, there is insecurity and anxiety. Intimate partners often harbor unrealistic expectations when entering into an intimate relationship. They expect to derive a disproportionate degree of security and satisfaction from being in a relationship. I help couples clarify their individual boundaries, desires and improve communication. I help them to appreciate and respect differences between them.

About Anxiety

Anxiety is ubiquitous. It touches all areas of an individual's life. Most of us experience it to a mild or tolerable degree. This is easy to recognize at work or, say, in dating. We want to be accepted, but fear we won't be. Anxiety is a normal human experience. When this experience becomes too intense, it may threaten our functioning and quality of life. Sometimes, it is difficult to recognize. It is not yet in our "consciousness". It may take the form of repetitive behaviors (nail biting), hair pulling or obsessive thoughts. Difficulty concentrating, racing thoughts, distractability, sleeplessness or loss of appetite - all may be signs of anxiety. Disturbing or strange dreams, memory problems, irrational fears (phobias), intrusive thoughts, somatic problems, sleep disturbance, obsession and compulsive behaviors - indicate that an individual is struggling with anxiety. We've lived with anxiety for many years. We may use alcohol or drugs to manage social anxiety. But it can turn into a dependency on it. At times, ordinary life challenges may seem insurmountable. We give up before we have even made an effort to find workable solutions. For long stretches of time, we lose ourselves in self-defeating activities. We form relationships that run counter to our desires. Often these negative patterns are set in childhood. Often, it takes another person to invite our self-reflection. Emotional problems get worse in isolation.

Services Offered

• Anxiety counseling
• Couples counseling
• Trauma counseling
• Addiction counseling
• Relationship coaching
• Individual therapy sessions
• Video conferencing sessions