Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Services
Dave Lewis specializes in individual and relationship therapy with clients from all age groups. He uses a strength-based approach for building social-emotional competence with individuals experiencing stress and trauma. Areas of specialization include:
- Relationship and communication building
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Anxiety Reduction
- Trauma focused therapy (TF-CBT and EMDR)
- Play Therapy and Family Therapy
- Positive parenting strategies and parent-child attachment building
- Working with transgender and gender expansive individuals and families
- Neurodiverse clients, trans-affirming therapy, LGBTQIA+ support.
- Educational services, IEP/504 teams, and CSA referrals.
- Consultation and training affirmative therapy
Biography
Dave provides individual, relationship and trauma-focused therapy for clients of all ages. He emphasizes a client-centered, strength-based approach and uses a variety of modalities particularly CBT, family systems, and attachment-related approaches. His specialty areas include neurodiverse clients, transgender and gender expansive individuals, communication and relationship building including parenting strategies and family therapy, Play Therapy, EMDR and trauma-informed therapy. He is approved for CSA referrals.
Dave has worked as an advocate for children and families for over 20 years. He has served as a Therapist and Supervisor in programs for children and teens with a history of trauma or significant personal/family challenges. He has facilitated support groups for Strengthening Families, parent support groups, LGBTQ+ teens and pre-teens, and ADHD groups. He also worked as a counselor in school-based programs with at-risk teens, and advising special education teams. Prior to becoming a social worker, Dave worked with young children and their families in Head Start, Early Intervention Special Education, and childcare settings. Currently, he works with clients from all age groups, including both young and older adults.
Dave received his Masters Degree in Social Work with Distinction from California State University, Chico, and undergraduate degree as a Bonnor Scholar at Oberlin College. In 2020 he was recommended by his clients and recognized by the Virginia NASW as social worker of the year. He provides individual and family therapy; play therapy; substance-use therapy for co-occurring disorders; and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). He offers clinical supervision for LCSW licensure; and has provided professional training in Affirmative Therapy for LGBTQIA+ clients, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Informed Care Giving (TICG), ADHD skill building, Anger Management for teens (ART), and Safe-Space Training for mental health clinics
Education
- M.S.W., Masters Degree in Social Work, California State University, Chico, 2011
- B.A., Oberlin College, 2001
Memberships:
National Association of Social Work
Certifications:
- EMDRIA- Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing
- TF-CBT- Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy
