David Roy, Psychotherapist in Fresno, 93710

David E. Roy, Ph.D.

Profession(s):
Psychotherapy, Marriage & Family Therapy, Pastoral Counseling
License Status:
I'm a licensed professional.
Licensing Info:
I am a certified Fellow in the Am. Assn. of Pastoral Counselors
Primary License:
Marriage & Family Therapist - 008973

My Approach to Helping

I see the general goal of therapy as helping people become better managers of their inner world. This is the one arena where we have a realistic chance of change.

The work I do is informed by more than 35 years of experience as a psychotherapist. This experience, together with extensive education and training, enables me to work with individuals, couples, and families, at the appropriate level of depth needed to resolve current frustrations as well as any old issues that may feed into the present situations.

The specific goals of therapy depend upon the needs and desires of my clients. With individuals, this often means helping them identify, understand, heal, and transform those issues that interfere with their ability to reach their desired goals in life. With couples, my aim is to assist their efforts to become more caring and understanding partners. I find that self-understanding helps achieve this goal. I find great value in the work of John Gottman and Harville Hendrix as well as family systems theory.

My background in theology and religion makes it possible for me and those working under my supervision to assist those who are religiously and spiritually grounded to better use these resources in their healing. I never force any particular religious perspective on a client and I am comfortable working with persons who are not religious.

I take psychotherapy very seriously as a healing art. This means it is informed by modern science, but its goals and process should not be dictated exclusively by science.

Psychotherapy, which has the potential to assist individuals in their quest for a more fulfilling life and a greater sense of peace and joy, is hard work for both client and therapist. It is a process that takes significant time and steady effort. There are no realistic quick fixes, no crash courses.

More Info About My Practice

My areas of emphasis and expertise include the following: Working with individuals for depression, anxiety, loss of meaning, job stress, PTSD & trauma-recovery, personal and professional development. Helping clients use their spiritual resources for growth and healing. Assisting couples with communication problems, marital discord, loss of romance, sexual dysfunction, step-family adjustments, and recovery from infidelity. Integrating Mindfulness-Based approaches into treatment as needed.

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

I am experienced in helping individuals and couples for whom their faith tradition is central to them be able to use and integrate those sources of health in their faith in the service of their growth and healing. In this context, I have worked with people from an enormous variety and a wide spectrum of religious beliefs. Perhaps reflective of our nation's balance of Christians to non-Christians (the former being roughly 80 to 85% of our population), most of my religious-rooted clients are from one of the Christian traditions. I've also worked with Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, Jehovah Witnesses, as well as Jews, humanists, atheists. Within this is another specialty of having worked a great deal with parish clergy. As may be apparent from this, I do not expect or require anyone to adhere to any particular religious or biblical perspective. The only place that comes close to a universal for those with deep faith is an understanding of God as an unlimited and unstoppable source of love and acceptance. A second near-universal is the acceptance of our individual ability to make our own decisions (free will) for better (hopefully) or worse.

Had a Negative Therapy Experience?

At the initial session if someone indicates they have had a bad experience in previous therapy, I ask them to tell me what it was that made it bad or wrong for them. I have been amazed at some of the things I have heard. I've heard about therapists repeatedly falling asleep in front of clients, talking at length about their own current problems, telling someone in the first session or two that he/she should end the marriage. Others have said their therapist just listened, never said anything, that nothing happened; or the opposite, that the therapist was too directive. What I say varies depending upon the information shared and how it is shared. If it is an obvious problem (falling asleep, talking about oneself), I most often will validate by saying that, yes, this should not have happened. I also tell them (as I tell anyone in the first session) that if I do or say something or suggest to them to do something that makes them uncomfortable or raises a question, to let me know, either on the spot or in a future session. I explain that sometimes their reaction to something I've done can lead to something quite important; or, if I've made a mistake, it gives me an opportunity to apologize and make amends. I also explain that it is very important we keep our relationship open and working so clearing up problem areas is essential for success.