David Michalowski

Parenting can bring out parts of ourselves we never knew were there. I help parents understand not only their child’s behavior, but their own emotional responses, expectations, and triggers. We explore how your history and relationship patterns may shape the way you parent, so you can respond with greater intention rather than simply reacting. My goal is to help you feel more confident, connected, and grounded in your role as a parent.

Family conflict often involves much more than the disagreement on the surface. Longstanding roles, expectations, resentments, and unspoken dynamics can shape how family members respond to one another. I help clients understand these patterns, communicate more honestly, and develop greater agency in how they participate in their relationships—without requiring them to control or change the other person.

I help couples look beyond the immediate conflict to understand the patterns underneath it. Often, resentment, defensiveness, and recurring arguments are connected to deeper fears, expectations, and ways each person protects themselves. My approach is direct but compassionate, helping couples take responsibility for their own part while learning to stay connected without losing themselves in the relationship.

I believe our present experiences are often shaped by patterns that developed long before we became consciously aware of them. In therapy, we’ll explore the emotions, defenses, relationships, and experiences that have influenced how you see yourself and others. I’m interested not only in what is happening, but in why it keeps happening. By bringing these patterns into awareness—and looking honestly at the blind spots that can be difficult to see on our own—we can create greater understanding, em

I view people in the context of their relationships and the systems they are part of. We’ll explore how family roles, expectations, patterns of communication, and longstanding dynamics can shape how you experience yourself and respond to others. The goal is not simply to change other people, but to develop greater awareness and agency in how you participate in your relationships.

I incorporate CBT principles when they are useful, particularly in helping clients recognize the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Rather than simply trying to replace negative thoughts with positive ones, I’m interested in understanding why certain patterns of thinking develop and what purpose they may serve. This can help create more flexibility and choice in how you respond.

I incorporate CBT when it’s useful, particularly when you’re caught in patterns of thinking or reacting that keep you stuck. We’ll look at the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors—not simply to replace “negative thoughts” with positive ones, but to understand the assumptions and habits underneath them. The goal is greater flexibility and more choice in how you respond.