About Dr. David Shapiro
Doctoral Rigor, Modern Science, and Contemplative Depth
As a licensed psychologist with over two decades of clinical experience, my priority is creating an environment of discretion, intellectual depth, and safety.
My boutique practice is structured exclusively online, offering confidential, high-touch psychological care and strategic performance coaching for executives, professionals, gifted adolescents, and couples throughout California.
I view therapy not merely as a mechanism for symptom reduction, but as an active, collaborative partnership designed to help you resolve entrenched barriers and materialize a life of genuine purpose, vitality, and relational health.
An Integrative Clinical Framework
Human experience is complex and multi-faceted. Rather than forcing your unique circumstances into a rigid, singular model, our work draws upon a tailored synthesis of gold-standard psychological science and neurobiology:
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT) & Action-Oriented Methods: Identifying and restructuring counterproductive thought loops, behavioral habits, and automatic stress patterns.
Biopsychosocial & Neuro-Informed Regulation: Down-regulating autonomic nervous system arousal to move out of chronic fight-or-flight states into grounded executive focus.
Clinical Hypnotherapy: Utilizing state-dependent focus and non-authoritarian hypnotic communication (trained under Dr. Michael Yapko) to align unconscious conditioning with your conscious goals.
Existential, Humanistic & Relational Depth: Honoring your intrinsic drive for self-actualization while repairing interpersonal dynamics, communication loops, and attachment patterns.
Eastern Contemplative Wisdom & Neuroscience
A defining dimension of my practice is the integration of Eastern mindfulness with modern neuroscience. Research consistently demonstrates that training the mind in presence and non-attachment reorganizes neural pathways—fostering deep emotional resilience, mental clarity, and faster recovery from stress.
My understanding of these disciplines is rooted in seven years lived in Asia studying Eastern philosophy, including extensive meditative retreats and formal training alongside accomplished monks and contemplative teachers.
When appropriate and desired, I integrate practical meditation instruction, “observer-mind” cultivation, and self-compassion practices into our clinical work. This synthesis bridges traditional psychological rigor with practical mindfulness—equipping you with enduring internal tools to navigate life’s transitions with poise and self-respect.
Proven Impact & Client Reflections
Over twenty-five years of private practice, my commitment has remained unchanged: to deliver grounded, transformative care that yields tangible, long-term growth.
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Education & Credentials:
- License #: PSY 17495
- License State: CA
- Practicing Since: 20
- Education: I hold a Ph.D. from the APA Accredited Counseling Psychology Training Program at the University of Texas at Austin, an M.A. in Developmental Psychology from Teachers College – Columbia University, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of California at Santa Cruz.
