David West, LISW-CP

David West is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in South Carolina who brings a combination of clinical experience and a collaborative, client-centered style to his practice. He earned a master’s degree in social work with a specialty in working with adults and families from The University of Alabama in 2012 and holds the LISW-CP credential, a clinical social work license. Over his career he has worked in outpatient clinic settings, inpatient hospital units within the VA hospital system, and community mental health programs, and for the past two years he has coordinated a college outreach and counseling program that expanded his work with young adults.

He has provided care to people facing a wide range of concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, substance use, grief, relationship and family turmoil, anger, addiction, sleep problems, parenting and intimacy issues, self-esteem, career challenges, and bipolar disorder. Much of his work has focused on veterans, though he has also worked with teens and other adult populations across settings. He has contributed to committee work on treatment development and believes this background gives him a practical understanding of effective treatment options.

His therapeutic approach emphasizes establishing comfort and trust, offering unconditional positive regard, and helping clients recognize and use their strengths to address barriers. He is certified in a variety of treatment modalities that allow him to tailor care to individual needs, and he aims to keep sessions warm and open while setting clear goals defined by the client. He prioritizes client-centered care so that the person seeking help maintains control over treatment goals. He checks and responds to messages multiple times daily and is generally available for sessions between 8am and 6pm on weekdays, with flexibility for later times or weekends when needed. He looks forward to working with prospective clients.

Evidence-Informed Approaches and Accessible Online Care

David West integrates person-centered and strengths-based approaches into online therapy, creating space for clients to feel heard while identifying abilities and resources they can use to address challenges. Person-centered work emphasizes empathy and unconditional positive regard to build a trusting therapeutic relationship, which can help with issues such as anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns. Strengths-based methods focus on recognizing existing skills and resilience and applying them to goals like coping with stress, improving self-esteem, or navigating life transitions. He also applies trauma-informed principles when relevant, attending to safety, pacing, and the particular needs of people with histories of trauma.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and he works collaboratively with each person to determine which techniques fit their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they set clear, client-defined goals and adjust methods as progress is made.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexible options that fit different schedules and lifestyles. These formats make it easier to access licensed professionals from home, work, or on the go and allow therapy to continue when in-person options are limited, supporting continuity of care and convenience for busy lives.