What patients are saying
Overall rating
4.00
Average wait time
5.00
Bedside manner
4.00
About David Freshwater
Focus areas
Addiction / Substance Abuse
Depression
Relationship Struggles
Anxiety
Life Transition
Self Esteem Issues
Childhood Trauma
Personality Disorder
Clientele seen
Young adults (18-24)
Individuals
Adults (25-64)
Seniors (65+)
Treatment approaches
Psychoanalytic
Psychodynamic
Identity
Gender
MaleLanguages spoken
English
Getting to know David Freshwater
Do you feel stuck, unhappy, or like you're repeating the same old patterns?
Do you have difficulty forming or maintaining intimate relationships that are mutually satisfying? Perhaps you frequently feel depressed, anxious, irritated, or bored. Do you experience physical symptoms with no clear medical explanation?
Maybe you struggle with making decisions. Maybe you don't know what you really want in life. Maybe it's difficult to put whatever it is into words, but you know that something's not right.
Whatever it is, have you finally had enough?
Or maybe you've been struggling for a long time, have tried many so-called solutions before, but nothing seems to work in the long run.
Unfortunately, many forms of mainstream treatment today focus solely on symptom reduction. While these modalities may provide some short-term relief, they frequently fail over time because they do not address the underlying conflicts that led to the symptom in the first place. Unless these underlying conflicts get resolved, symptoms will continue to repeat and wreak havoc on a person's life.
My practice focuses on unearthing and impacting the unconscious root causes of problems-not just the surface-level issues-and I am committed to helping you make significant, long-lasting changes that will shape the rest of your life.
Respecting your views, values, and desires, I will work with you to unpack and work through the hidden conflicts that are holding you back from living the life you want.
My personal analysis, chosen supervision, and clinical interest have led me to adopt a Lacanian psychoanalytic orientation. I hold a Master's in Mental Health Counseling from City University of New York, Brooklyn College, which informs my approach and commitment to your growth.
What should a new client know about working with you?
Many other forms of therapy today focus strictly on symptom reduction, ignoring the fact that symptoms—while they may look quite similar from person to person—are unique expressions of unconscious conflicts particular to each individual. Unless the unconscious conflicts get resolved, the symptoms will continue to repeat and/or mutate into something else. When the underlying root problems remain unaddressed, it leads to the phenomenon of “revolving door” patients, i.e. people who are in and out of therapy for years, if not decades. Worse still, many of these people may give up on therapy entirely, believing they are beyond help, or that all therapy is a scam, when in actuality the method of treatment was faulty.
Additionally, many other forms of therapy today are directive in their approach, meaning that the therapist takes on the role of educator and teaches the client a set of skills, tools, or strategies that the client believes themselves to be lacking, e.g., assertiveness skills or emotional regulation training. These approaches can be of some help to people, they can provide some short-term relief, but they do not address the unconscious, and thus they are limited in their curative effects. Furthermore, they presuppose that the therapist’s views about reality and normality are Right, and they discredit ways of acting and being that fall outside this predetermined scope.
In my practice, symptoms are understood within the context of the individual’s life as a whole. The therapy is non-directive and guided by the speech of the person coming to treatment. Lastly, it is the unconscious that is put front and center as the target of therapeutic intervention. Because the treatment aims at the root causes of one’s mental and emotional suffering, the changes that occur are psychologically deeper and have greater relapse-prevention power than other modalities.
What is your typical process for working with clients?
Our initial session will serve as a consultation, where we'll delve into your motivations for seeking therapy, explore elements of your personal history, and discuss how we can maximize the effectiveness of our work together. It's also an opportunity for us to assess our compatibility and determine if we're a good fit to proceed further.
Upon mutual agreement to commence treatment, subsequent sessions will be scheduled regularly. During these sessions, you'll engage in the practice of free association, which is expressing your thoughts openly and without censorship. My role isn't to offer solutions or tell you what to do. Instead, I specialize in asking questions that encourage deeper exploration of your inner world and in fostering a dialogue with neglected aspects of your psyche.
I offer a nonjudgmental space of confidentiality where you can express yourself freely. Listening deeply and offering interpretations, I will facilitate a dialogue with your unconscious and aid you in articulating and navigating the complexities of your subjectivity. Together, we'll explore the connections between your dreams, fantasies, memories, relationships, thoughts, feelings, and desires.
It's important to acknowledge that this process may be challenging, as hidden conflicts are brought into the light of awareness. Issues that initially brought you to therapy may resurface, potentially hindering progress. However, by persevering through these challenges and continuing to engage in open dialogue, we can unravel unconscious knots and facilitate profound changes at the core of your being.
This process takes time and commitment. Quick fixes are easy to sell but seldom helpful in the long fun. Ultimately, this journey will lead to a deeper understanding of yourself, improved relationships with others, and a more fulfilling connection to the world around you.
Is this doctor in your insurance network?
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In-network insurances
David Freshwater, LMHC has +39 in-network plans.
Don’t see your insurance?
It’s common for mental health providers to be out-of-network. Many insurance plans offer out-of-network coverage, so you may get partially reimbursed. Learn more
Out-of-pocket fees and assistance
Initial session: $200 for 60 minutes
Ongoing session: $200 for 45 minutes
Education and background
Practice names
Education and training
- City University of New York, Brooklyn College, Master's in Mental Health Counseling
NPI number
1679135214
Patient reviews
All reviews have been submitted by patients after interacting with the practice.
Overall rating
4.00
Wait time
5.00
Bedside manner
4.00
Your trust is our top concern, so providers can't pay to alter or remove reviews. We also don't publish reviews that contain any private patient health information. Learn more here
4 reviews
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More than 1 year agoInitials hiddenVideo visit
More than 1 year agoInitials hiddenVideo visit
April 25, 2024Fabiana M.Verified patientVideo visit
More than 1 year agoInitials hiddenVideo visit
How soon can I make an appointment with David Freshwater?
Generally, David Freshwater has appointments available on Zocdoc within 1 week. You can see David Freshwater's earliest availability on Zocdoc and make an appointment online.
Is David Freshwater accepting new patients?
David Freshwater generally accepts new patients on Zocdoc. You can see David Freshwater's earliest availability on Zocdoc and schedule an appointment online.
Does David Freshwater accept my insurance?
Choose your insurance plan to verify if David Freshwater is in-network.
Can I make an appointment with David Freshwater online?
Yes, you can make an appointment online with David Freshwater using Zocdoc. It’s simple, secure, and free.
What practice does David Freshwater work with?
David Freshwater works with Freshwater Counseling.
What are common reasons for patients to see David Freshwater?
David Freshwater frequently sees patients for Depression, New Patient Visit, Psychotherapy, Psychotherapy Intake / Initial Visit, and Sleep Problems. You can see other visit reasons for David Freshwater on their profile.
What languages does David Freshwater speak?
David Freshwater speaks English.
How do patients rate David Freshwater in reviews?
4 patients have reviewed David Freshwater. The overall rating for this doctor is 4/5. They have a 4/5 rating for bedside manner and a 5/5 rating for wait time. You can read individual reviews and ratings on their profile.