- Client-centered approach
- Practical goal setting
- Trauma-informed care
About David
David Johnson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 30 years of clinical experience. He practices in South Dakota and has spent his career helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and the effects of trauma and abuse. He emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and a nonjudgmental tone in sessions.
He shapes conversations and plans around each person’s needs. Sessions focus on practical steps people can use between meetings. He also supports coping with life changes, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and challenges related to substance use and addictions.
David blends several therapeutic approaches to fit the person in front of him. He uses client-centered methods to build trust, cognitive behavioral ideas to find and change unhelpful patterns, and solution-focused strategies to set short-term goals. Trauma-focused methods are used when past events are central to a person's current difficulties.
Over three decades, he has worked with a wide range of problems including parenting stress, career uncertainty, sleep and eating concerns, and issues tied to family of origin or fatherhood. He also lists experience with first responder issues and coping with natural or human-caused disaster.
David describes his role as supportive and collaborative. He encourages people to take small, achievable steps toward clearer goals. The focus is on practical progress and on helping people feel more able to manage day-to-day challenges.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building a trusting conversation so the person feels heard and understood; it helps when someone needs a gentle, steady space to talk through problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and helps people try specific exercises to reduce anxiety, improve mood, or change unhelpful habits. Motivational Interviewing supports people who want to change behaviors by helping them clarify motivation and set realistic next steps.Deciding which approach to use is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with the person to choose techniques that match their goals, needs, and preferences, and may combine elements from different approaches as progress unfolds.
If you are considering online sessions, confirm the exact session formats before booking, since specific formats are not listed in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten check-ins on difficult days, or reduce travel time. Some formats also allow for simpler audio-only conversations when video is not needed or ideal. Discuss practical scheduling and format choices during the matching and intake steps so sessions align with everyday life and therapeutic goals.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Credentials
South Dakota
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of difficulties does he address?
He helps people with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, and coping with life changes, among other concerns such as addiction, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, and work or career stress.
What is his general therapy style?
He works in a respectful, sensitive, and nonjudgmental way and tailors conversations to each person's needs. Sessions focus on practical steps and short-term goals as well as longer-term change.
How much experience does he have?
He brings 30 years of professional experience working with a variety of emotional and behavioral concerns.
What credential does he hold and where is he based?
He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and practices in South Dakota.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with him?
He is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a time according to the therapist's availability.