David Shoemaker, Psy.D.

I specialize in personal and professional coaching, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. I accept psychotherapy clients who live in North Carolina. I accept coaching clients living anywhere around the world, and I offer online appointments for all of the above. I do not work with couples or families in my practice. I believe that to be effective, any counseling approach must take into account the unique circumstances of each client. In my therapy and coaching sessions, I work hard to understand your particular background and needs. My sessions include elements of cognitive-behavioral, Jungian, and transpersonal approaches. After meeting for our initial session, I will work with you to formulate a treatment or coaching plan that matches your goals for personal change. As we progress in our work together, I will always be open to your feedback, so that I can ensure our work is meeting your goals. If you think now might be the right time for you, please feel free to contact me. Frequently Asked Questions What is your professional licensure? I am a clinical psychologist licensed in North Carolina. My North Carolina license number is 5593. Can I work with you if I don't live near your physical office in North Carolina? Yes! You can access my coaching services via webcam from anywhere in the world. I use Simple Practice's telehealth service, which is fully secure and HIPAA-compliant. My clinical psychology and psychotherapy services, however, are only available to residents of North Carolina, but this includes telehealth options for those living outside the area of my physical office in Chapel Hill. What's the difference between psychotherapy and coaching? My clinical psychology and psychotherapy services include the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and symptoms such as depression, anxiety and panic attacks. I use cognitive-behavioral, Jungian, transpersonal, and other techniques of psychotherapy to help reduce or eliminate your symptoms, build coping skills, and improve your functioning at work, at home, and in relationships. Coaching does not involve diagnosis and treatment of any mental illness, and my coaching clients are not patients in my psychotherapy practice. Instead, I will work with you to understand your unique strengths, talents, and vision, and to formulate a plan to enhance your career, creative work, relationships, and almost anything else you'd like to work on! The International Coach Federation defines coaching in this way: "Professional Coaching is an ongoing professional relationship that helps people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or organizations. Through the process of coaching, clients deepen their learning, improve their performance, and enhance their quality of life. In each meeting, the client chooses the focus of conversation, while the coach listens and contributes observations and questions. This interaction creates clarity and moves the client into action. Coaching accelerates the client’s progress by providing greater focus and awareness of choice. Coaching concentrates on where clients are now and what they are willing to do to get where they want to be in the future. Coaches recognize that results are a matter of the client’s intentions, choices and actions, supported by the coach’s efforts and application of the coaching process." What are your fees? My fee for psychotherapy and coaching is $175 per 45 minute session. If you wish to use your health insurance for psychotherapy, your cost will vary depending on your insurance company. Health insurance does not cover the cost of coaching. What forms of payment do you accept? I accept all major credit cards, as well as cash for those seeing me in my physical office. About Dr. Shoemaker After graduating from Hendrix College (Conway, Arkansas) with a B.A. in Psychology, I received my Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Indiana State University in 1995. I opened my practice in California in 1997, and in 2020 I relocated to Chapel Hill, North Carolina. In addition to my clinical work, I have served as an adjunct faculty member at Indiana State University and California State University, Sacramento, at various points over the years. In my free time, I enjoy music, cooking, meditation, travel and hiking.