My path toward counseling

Before becoming a counselor, I spent 25 years in corporate America working in everything from small start-ups to some of the largest, multinational companies in the country. I got good at what I was doing and yet I never felt truly fulfilled. Something was missing, but I didn’t have the courage to make a change. Simply put, I got comfortable and I decided the pain of making a change would be more than the pain of staying where I was. Then I experienced multiple traumatic events and losses one right after another in a short period of time. These experiences fundamentally changed me and shook me way, way outside my comfort zone. I decided life is too short to spend any more of it doing something that didn’t satisfy my desire to help people. So, I went back to school and got a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, and three years later, A Path Forward, LLC was born.

My experience and training

Licensed Professional Counselor (license #LPC.0016238)
National Certified Counselor (NCC)
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional
Certified Advanced Grief Counseling Specialist
Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional
Certified Mental Health First Aid Responder recognized by the National Council for Behavioral Health
Former certified therapy dog handler recognized by Alliance of Therapy Dogs
Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Regis University
Three-year apprenticeship in equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning
One-year internship working with court-ordered clients in the criminal justice system; men and woman serving community corrections sentences or already on probation or parole

My approach

“Fall down seven times. Get up eight.”

Japanese proverb

No two clients are the same and no two relationships with my clients are the same. I’ll tailor our work together to your personality, needs, and preferences. In general, I take a strength-based, solution-focused approach to working with people. What does that mean in plain English? It means I focus on what’s right with you instead of what’s wrong. We’ll work to understand how you’d like the future to look, identify your strengths, and use those strengths to work toward that future.

“I am not what has happened to me.
I am what I choose to become.”

Carl Jung

I have a very broad definition of trauma that includes many of the experiences we tend to overlook or believe shouldn’t affect us; bullying (as kids or adults), job or relationship losses, toxic work environments, life passages and milestones, health changes, and aging to name a few. I understand first-hand the life-changing impact of traumatic experiences at different stages of life. I also know that it’s possible to survive and thrive after going through even the toughest circumstances.

“When we self-regulate well, we are better able to control the trajectory of our emotional lives and resulting actions based on our values and sense of purpose.”

Amy Leigh Mercree

Remaining balanced and centered (“regulated” in psychological lingo) in response to stress is, I believe, the key to mental and physical wellness, and mindfulness is the key to that regulation. That’s why I incorporate mindfulness exercises into my work, especially with people facing the challenges of thriving after traumatic experiences. More and more research is showing the powerful effects of mindfulness on our ability to regulate our thoughts and emotions. So, if you’re open to it, I’ll likely suggest mindful breathing, walking, or eating exercises along with a variety of simple, proven methods of helping relax your mind, nervous system, and body.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Viktor Frankl

I believe nothing is permanent. Everything is constantly changing. The reason that’s important is that it means today’s challenges don’t have to be tomorrow’s problems. That’s worth repeating: today’s challenges don’t have to be tomorrow’s problems. The fact is, most of us are so accustomed to focusing on problems and negative changes that we lose sight of how we’re constantly growing and taking positive steps. Growth comes from identifying those positive changes and doing more of what’s working.

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”

Viktor Frankl

Everything happens for a reason. I’ve heard that too many times to count and, while I understand the spirit behind the cliché, I find it more hurtful than helpful. I believe everything does not happen for a reason. Sometimes things just happen, and sometimes those things are painful. Pain is simply part of being human, as much as I wish that weren’t true. I also believe that pain and suffering are two different things, and while we can’t avoid all painful experiences, we can minimize our suffering by choosing our response to those experiences. When we’re ready, we can make meaning out of everything that happens.

What people say about me

I’m honored to have worked with many remarkable people, and I’m flattered
by their kind words.

Featured

“Before being a therapist, Dave Wyner is a very real and genuine person. It is this realness that provides a ground from which he, as a therapist, is able to accompany people on their unique healing path. For those of us who have sat in the client's chair, we know the power of a therapist who can balance both a warm, validating presence with a willingness to cut through the "garbage" that we often use to keep ourselves stuck in the very patterns we come to therapy to change. Dave's skill lies in holding this dynamic balance of attending and challenging with each client he works with. In my experience supervising Dave, his genuine humility and the palpable depth of his personal experience and practice combine in a potent way to bring you down to earth, deeply into yourself, and into more genuine relationship with the world and the people around you. If you are ready and willing to walk the talk of facing your life with courage, self-compassion, and accountability, I could not recommend Dave more highly.”

“As a colleague in the field of grief and trauma treatment, I have high respect for Dave and his work. I am always happy to refer people to him, whether for talk therapy or equine-assisted therapy, because I know they will receive quality help and support. He brings a wonderful sense of presence, deep compassion, and strength-based focus into every session.”

“I have had the great fortune of working with Dave for the past few years. He is very knowledgeable and never has he made me feel small or naive. He is incredibly giving and it always feels like we are walking side-by-side. He knows how to read the situation, when it's ok to let me have some silence and when to laugh with me. Dave is a tremendous mentor and collaborator, one that has brought me through some trying times and has always been that rock, that constant person I know I can reach out to when I need to talk with someone. I cannot recommend this man or his services enough. There are a lot of choices out there.... take a chance with Dave. You'll find the comfort of a familiar friend within this very skilled therapist.”

“It was a privilege to work with Dave during our clinical internship, and continues to be a privilege to collaborate with him as a peer. It has always been evident that Dave was a natural people person, from how well-liked he was by his clients, to his openness and friendliness with his colleagues. I am continually impressed with Dave's ability to bring people together, his work to make equine-assisted therapy available to more people, and his continued enthusiasm for growing as a counselor.”

“As a colleague, I consider Dave one of the most compassionate, approachable, knowledgeable people in the field. He brings a depth of experience along with a strong clinical skill set that allows his clients to benefit from healing. I highly recommend Dave to people seeking counseling in the Louisville area!”

“Dave is a skilled, intuitive, and highly competent clinician. His sensitivity to the diverse needs of each individual is unique, and he demonstrates compassion for all experiences. I would strongly recommend David as a psychotherapist for anyone seeking an impactful and strengthening therapeutic experience.”

“Dave is one-of-a-kind and one of the most genuine and kind people I know. He brings this demeanor into counseling where he provides a safe place to process trauma in an unassuming, yet highly professional way. It's also fantastic that he is able to incorporate equine-assisted counseling with the talk therapy that he does, as these compliment each other well and is a super unique, but potent way to heal. I highly recommend Dave for your counseling needs!”