About David | Shieldscounseling

I've always been interested in understanding why people do what they do—especially when we find ourselves repeating patterns that we know aren't working.

That curiosity is a big part of how I approach therapy. I don't assume that anxiety, anger, withdrawal, people-pleasing, overthinking, or relationship difficulties simply need to be “fixed.” Usually, there's a reason those ways of responding developed.

I enjoy helping people understand that reason—and then figure out whether the ways they've learned to protect themselves are still helping them live the life they want.

What It's Like to Work With Me

I'm an engaged and conversational therapist. I'll listen carefully, but I won't simply sit back and expect you to figure everything out on your own. I'll ask questions, point out patterns, and sometimes gently challenge you when something doesn't quite seem to fit.

At the same time, I don't see my role as telling you what decisions you should make. I want to help you understand yourself well enough to make those decisions more intentionally.

Sometimes that means understanding how earlier experiences continue to influence you. Sometimes it means recognizing how anxiety or fear has begun organizing your choices. And sometimes it means discovering that a way of coping that once worked very well isn't working nearly as well anymore.

I also don't believe every person or every problem needs to be approached through one particular therapy model. Different people need different things at different times. I draw from different approaches based on what we're trying to understand or change rather than trying to make every problem fit the same method.

The goal isn't for me to have the answers. It's for our work together to help you understand yourself well enough to find your own.

What Makes This Work Meaningful to Me

Some of the most meaningful moments in this work are when someone begins looking at themselves or their life differently, or when they experience—even for a few minutes—that they can respond differently to something that has felt overwhelming.

And sometimes the best feedback I can receive is when a client tells me they don't think they need therapy anymore.

The goal isn't to keep you in therapy. It's to help you get to a place where you no longer need it.

Experience Has Shaped How I See People

My path to becoming a therapist wasn't particularly direct. Before earning my bachelor's degree, I spent several years working in construction. I later worked with young people in a group home, which is where my interest in counseling and mental health really began to take shape.

I went on to earn my bachelor's degree at 30 and my master's degree in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University at 39. My professional experience has also included working as a behavior specialist in the school system with students experiencing significant emotional and behavioral difficulties and their families.

Those experiences helped shape something I still believe today: behavior usually makes more sense when we understand what's happening underneath it.

Over the years, I've seen that principle in many different forms. Anxiety, anger, withdrawal, conflict, overthinking, or the need to stay in control may look like the problem on the surface. Understanding what drives those responses often tells us much more about what needs to change.

I've also learned that people rarely fit neatly into a diagnosis or a single explanation. Two people can come to therapy with what looks like the same problem and have very different stories about how they got there.

That's why I try to understand the person before assuming I understand the problem.

A Little About Me

I grew up in a small village in northeast Ohio. I'm married with adult children, and outside of work I enjoy traveling, camping, and hands-on projects around the house. I'm usually working on something or figuring out how to make something work better.

People who know me well would probably describe me as calm, patient, caring, a problem-solver—and someone who doesn't mind using humor when it's needed.

Like most people, my own life has included successes, disappointments, difficult relationships, unexpected challenges, and things I've had to figure out along the way. Those experiences have influenced how I understand people and change.

I don't subscribe to the idea that therapists have everything figured out. We're people too, shaped by our own experiences, relationships, successes, mistakes, and the things we've had to learn along the way.

A Personal Perspective

“David Shields is the perfect blend of compassion / emotional support AND practicality. While kind and totally non-judgmental, he will also seek to gently move you along toward solutions... He is the real deal.”

— J.B.

Professional Background

David Shields, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Florida License MH19485

M.S., Mental Health Counseling
Nova Southeastern University, 1999

Therapy Available
In person in Tampa
Telehealth throughout Florida

Ready to Get Started?

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