PuttingFamilyFirst

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DS Portrait of David Spellman
Online therapist

David Spellman

Helping families build clearer paths forward

Credentials
LMHC, LMFT
Experience
11 years
Licensed in
Florida
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About David

David Spellman is a licensed therapist who relies on client-centered work combined with practical therapies to help families and individuals. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in Florida. He has 11 years of experience in mental health care and brings a straightforward style to sessions.

David trained at Stetson University, where he earned a master’s degree in mental health with a dual certificate in marriage and family therapy.

Background and approach

He completed internships at the House Next Door in Deland and on the crisis unit at Aspire Health Partners in Sanford. These early roles exposed him to a range of urgent and everyday concerns. He works with common family and parenting stresses, relationship problems, mood concerns, anxiety, substance use issues, trauma, and identity questions among other topics.

He has experience addressing serious mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and personality disorders alongside more typical life struggles. Since October 2019 he has maintained a independent practice in Orange City, Florida, while also serving as the State Hospital Liaison for Seminole County.

In that liaison role he has worked with both civilian and forensic populations, giving him experience coordinating care across systems. In sessions he uses clear, active techniques like cognitive behavioral methods and narrative or solution-focused work to set concrete goals. Parents and caregivers can expect step-by-step suggestions, space to talk through difficult moments, and a focus on improving communication and daily routines.

Online approaches that focus on real family needs

Client-centered therapy asks the therapist to follow the client’s concerns and priorities, offering empathy and support while families name what matters most. This approach helps when parents or caregivers need a calm space to sort feelings and decide next steps.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and offers concrete tools to change unhelpful patterns. It is often useful for anxiety, mood struggles, stress, and behavior issues that show up at home.

Narrative therapy helps people reframe the stories they tell about themselves and their relationships, which can be useful for parenting challenges, identity questions, and family-of-origin issues.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person or family to find methods that match their goals and preferences. Treatment plans are adjusted over time based on what helps most.

Online work offers flexibility for busy households. Video calls let families meet face to face when schedules allow. Phone, live chat, and text-based messaging give alternative ways to check in between sessions and keep momentum when life is hectic.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Existential Therapy

Takes the larger questions seriously: meaning, choice, mortality, responsibility. Suited to periods when the difficulty is less a symptom than a sense that something has to change.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does he address with families?
He works with family and parenting concerns and related areas such as communication problems, divorce and separation, and family of origin issues.
What is his general therapy style?
He blends client-centered work with cognitive behavioral, narrative, and solution-focused methods to create practical, goal-oriented sessions.
What background does he bring to therapy?
He has worked in mental health since 2012, completed internships in crisis and community settings, and has 11 years of professional experience.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He holds LMHC and LMFT credentials: FL LMHC MH13944 and FL LMFT MT3136, and provides services from Florida.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How are costs and payment handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

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