My Approach to Helping
At different points in our lives, we can feel like we're drowning. Anxiety and depression can leave us feeling helpless. We can experience hurt and anger from our relationships that cause us to withdraw. I know what it’s like to experience debilitating sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, relational conflict, grief, and trauma. I can help. I have found from evidence-based treatments that how we behave and think, often reflects the story we've chosen to believe for ourselves and others. When we gain a greater awareness of ourselves and the deep meanings we attach to our stories, there is no solution that is out of reach.
I've counseled at the Center (Dallas), Buckner International, Incarnation House, and Recovery Resource Council. I've had a record of success in seeing individuals, couplesfamilies, veterans, and pastors. I aim at creating an environment where you can be your true self so that within a trusted relationship, we can accomplish your intended goals.
Who you are today doesn't have to define you for tomorrow. You don't have to feel stuck or helpless anymore. Together, we can experience freedom, hope, and relief. Call or email me for a free 15-minute consult.
How My Own Struggles Made Me a Better Therapist
My name is David Ha. My name like yours, carries a unique story. I'd like to share a bit of myself to you because I think it's important for you to know my journey of how I became a counselor.
My parents were born and raised in South Korea and immigrated to the States, where I was born and raised in NY. I can't imagine the challenges they've experienced adapting to a new language and culture. To say that they worked hard and sacrificed is an understatement, as they saw their goals realized and had a successful medical practice for 25 years. Every family has dysfunction on some level and for me, it was growing up with an alcoholic parent. Looking back, I can see clearer why at different seasons I was severely obese, anorexic, bulimic, got into the wrong crowd, etc. Hindsight is 2020 and I wish I could have known the importance of confronting and dealing with the issues at hand. But instead, I faced my relational traumas by avoidance and distraction. It was only until I reached young adulthood where I realized that if I didn't intentionally deal with the traumas I experienced, that it would only perpetuate and do me greater harm. So began the hard work of navigating through trauma and journeying towards whole health.
I grew up hearing the stigma of counseling and was taught by culture and family not to discuss our problems but rather to "deal with it," "to be a man and suck it up," but in doing so, I never dealt with the problems. I often wonder how life would have been different if I was in counseling and was able to get the help I needed at such a critical time in my development. But what I've realized by seeing a counselor in my later years, that it's never too late to work through trauma and it's never too late to work towards change.
Counseling isn't just a job, it's a passion and mission--to bring aid and help to individuals, couples and families so that they can truly be who they are meant to be.
Clinicians who offer sliding scale payment structures may offer lower or reduced fees based on an individual's ability to pay. Please contact this clinician for more details regarding their fees or sliding scale policy.
