About H. David Chaney and Cookeville Therapy

H.David Chaney is a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in individual and marriage counseling and maintains a private practice in Cookeville, Tennessee.

He served as a minister from 1983 to 1995.  From 1998 to 2004 he served as a counselor and Clinical Team Leader for the Bertha Abess Children’s Center in Miami Florida which serves children in the Miami/Dade County school system.  He has also served as the Clinical Director of the Cookeville, Lebanon and Jamestown offices of LifeCare Family Services (LCFS) from 2004 to 2010.  LCFS is a community mental health agency with offices in middle Tennessee.

David has over 25 years experience as a minister and Licensed Therapist. Among his areas of expertise are marriage and family issues, working with adults  dealing with trauma issues (using EMDR), depression, anxiety, spiritual issues, anger management and grief.

David Chaney is an interactive, Christian counselor. His therapeutic approach is to provide support and practical feedback to help clients effectively address personal life challenges. He integrates psychological and spiritual concepts to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each client. With compassion and understanding, he works with each individual to help them build on their strengths and attain the personal growth they are committed to accomplishing.

My Approach. . . .

Christian Values

Every counselor has his or her own values, beliefs and approach to the counseling relationship.  My view of the world and human beings is colored by my beliefs.  One of my Christian Values is service.  My goal is to serve and help you develop and reach your own goals (not mine).  My goal is not to impose my values and beliefs on you.  If you are not a Christian you can be assured that I am here to serve you in ways that are respectful of your goals and values.  If you are a Christian you can be assured that my approach to helping you will be respectful of your values.  No counselor can serve every person and every ethical counselor is ready and willing to refer if their experience and competencies are not in line with your needs.  I hope you will give me an opportunity to serve you!

Cognitive Therapy

Cognitive therapy is based on how our thoughts and beliefs impact our emotions and behavior.  It involves strategies and concepts designed to help you make changes in areas where you have the ability to change and at the same time develop rational beliefs about things you have no power to change.  My approach imvolves innovative concepts and strategies designed to help you cope with life’s adversities and then learn to live a fulfilled life.

EMDR

(Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

This innovative approach to therapy was developed to help individuals overcome past trauma.  It is based on the way our brain stores memory.  It is a great form of therapy for those who don’t want to talk about what happened to them in detail, for those who are really insightful about what happened but still feel stuck or for those wh don’t want to spend years in psychotherapy (Although not always, EMDR can be fast with long-term results).

Education

  • Freed Hardeman University, Henderson, TN, BA in Communication and Bible
  • Carlos Albizu University, Miami Florida, MS in Psychology

License

  • Licensed in Florida (Licensed Mental Health Counselor) from May 2000 to March 2005
  • Current License in Tennessee (Licensed Professional Counselor) August 2004 to present

Additional Training

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) training from the Beck Institute in Philadelphia
  • EMDR training for treatment of trauma issues from EMDR Intitute
  • Family Dynamics training in Marriage Counseling
  • Hope Focused Marriage Counseling

Professional Memberships

  • National Board for Certified Counselors (NCC)
  • Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level 2 (CCTP-II) Certification
  • American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC)
  • Tennessee Licensed Professional Counselors Association (TLPCA)
  • Marriage and Family International Coaching Association (MFICA)