Business Details
Empathy-Based Psychotherapy for Couples & Individuals
David Shaddock, PhD, MFT, has dedicated over four decades to advancing psychotherapy through an empathy-based approach rooted in relational psychoanalysis. Specializing in couples, individual, and family therapy, our practice addresses emotional trauma and disrupted attachment patterns that hinder empathic connections. With international recognition as a speaker, author, and clinical supervisor, we combine academic rigor and practical expertise to help clients heal past wounds and cultivate self-awareness. Our therapeutic environment prioritizes safety and attunement, enabling clients to overcome lifelong challenges and strengthen relationships.As a licensed marriage and family therapist in California, we maintain a private practice in Berkeley while contributing to psychoanalytic education through teaching roles at the Wright Institute and Tampa Institute for Psychoanalytic Studies. Our work bridges clinical practice with literary contributions, including award-winning poetry and publications on relational healing.
Services
Couples Psychotherapy
Individual Therapy
Family Counseling
Relational Psychoanalysis
Clinical Supervision
Workshops & Lectures
Authoring Services
Highlights and features
- We have over 40 years of clinical experience in relational psychoanalysis.
- Our approach integrates contemporary psychoanalytic theory with practical healing techniques.
- We maintain active roles in psychoanalytic education and professional supervision.
- Our practice combines therapeutic expertise with literary contributions to emotional healing.
- We offer internationally informed perspectives through global teaching engagements.
Associations and certifications
- California Board of Behavioral Sciences
Services
Couples Psychotherapy
Specialized therapy for couples seeking to repair emotional connections and resolve relationship impasses. Our approach addresses unconscious patterns affecting intimacy while fostering individual growth. Clients develop tools to enhance communication and rebuild trust through structured sessions focused on mutual understanding and empathic attunement.
Individual Therapy
One-on-one sessions addressing emotional trauma, self-defeating patterns, and personal development goals. Using relational psychoanalysis techniques, we help clients explore past experiences impacting current behavior while cultivating self-awareness. The therapeutic process creates safe space for emotional exploration and lasting behavioral change through consistent, empathic support.
Clinical Supervision
Guidance for mental health professionals seeking to enhance their therapeutic skills. Drawing from four decades of clinical experience, we provide supervision that integrates psychoanalytic theory with practical application. Supervisees develop deeper understanding of client dynamics while refining their therapeutic approach through case discussions and professional development planning.
Relational Psychoanalysis
Specialized treatment focusing on repairing disrupted attachment patterns and enhancing emotional attunement. This approach examines how early relationships shape current interactions while developing strategies for healthier connections. Clients learn to recognize and modify unconscious relational patterns through insight-oriented therapy sessions grounded in contemporary psychoanalytic theory.
Workshops & Lectures
Educational programs for mental health professionals and organizations on empathy-based therapeutic techniques. Topics include unconscious relationship dynamics, trauma healing, and contemporary psychoanalytic approaches. Participants gain practical tools for improving client outcomes through interactive sessions combining theoretical knowledge with case study applications.
People
David Shaddock
Psychotherapist & Author
Licensed marriage and family therapist with 40+ years of experience in relational psychoanalysis. Internationally recognized speaker, clinical supervisor at the Wright Institute, and author of award-winning books on relationships and emotional healing.
Questions
What therapeutic approach do you use?
We specialize in empathy-based relational psychoanalysis that addresses emotional trauma and attachment disruptions through personalized treatment plans.
Do you work with both couples and individuals?
Yes, our practice focuses on couples therapy, individual sessions, and family counseling using integrated psychoanalytic techniques.
What are your professional qualifications?
Dr. Shaddock holds a PhD in Psychoanalytic Research, is a licensed MFT in California, and serves as clinical supervisor at the Wright Institute.
How long are therapy sessions?
Standard sessions last 50 minutes, with extended sessions available for intensive therapeutic work when needed.
Do you offer professional supervision?
Yes, we provide clinical supervision for mental health professionals seeking to enhance their relational psychoanalysis skills.
Where is your practice located?
Our Berkeley, California office serves local clients with options for virtual sessions across California.
