Today we’d like to introduce you to David Rothman.
David, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I knew from a young age that I wanted to become a therapist. I suppose it started because enough of my friends told me I was a good listener and said I’d make a good therapist, so I decided to listen to that advice by majoring in psychology. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, I opted to pursue a career in Social Work and earned my Masters of Social Work degree from George Mason University. While at GMU, I was inducted into Phi Alpha Honor Society, GMU Chi Chapter for outstanding academic performance.
While earning my Master’s Degree, I worked full-time for a provider of residential services for people with developmental disabilities. I then began working at Arlington County Department of Human Services where I gained extensive clinical experience in working with patients and clients who live in Arlington County. I also received specialized clinical training in providing therapy to people with autism, intellectual disabilities, and other developmental disabilities.
I then joined a local private practice based in the Courthouse neighborhood of Arlington, working primarily with adolescents and adults of all ages struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, and other issues. From there, I decided to launch my own private practice, working side-by-side with several of my colleagues in our new, shared office space in Rosslyn.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I wouldn’t say my road to becoming a therapist was smooth. I think I grew a lot as a person when I worked for a residential provider, doing sometimes very difficult personal care labor for people with high needs. When I rose the ranks at that company and became a manager of 3 different residences, I also was in grad school earning my MSW, so I was forced to learn better time management skills, stress management skills, and how to make the most of what precious little free time I had. I had some good and bad supervisors while I worked there and unfortunately, the working environment became kind of toxic; I was literally told at one point that I “shouldn’t expect to have separation from my job” as a manager! But working under those conditions actually helped me become a better supervisor in later roles, precisely because I learned what NOT to do as a manager or supervisor.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’d say my top three specialities are exposure therapy for anxiety/OCD/phobias, EMDR therapy for trauma work, and comfort/expertise in working with neurodivergent clients with co-occurring trauma, anxiety, and/or depression.
I think what sets me apart from most other therapists (maybe not most other exposure therapists though!) is a willingness to get my hands dirty, both literally and figuratively. For example, for clients with a highway driving phobia, I will literally get in the car with the client driving to help them overcome their fear of driving on the highway. For clients with contamination OCD, I’ll literally touch bathroom floors, toilet seats, car tires, etc along with the client to help teach them that they won’t get deathly ill if they don’t immediately wash their hands! To be honest, I enjoy the break in routine from sitting in my office chair as well.
How do you define success?
I vaguely define success as living your life authentically in a way that allows you to meet your goals. In a therapy context, success for the client usually means being able to manage things like anxiety or depression effectively enough so that it no longer constricts their life in a substantial way. For example, the client with social anxiety is considered “successful” in therapy if that anxiety no longer stops them from making conversation with others or making attempts to date. Success isn’t “I find a dating partner”, it’s “I’m doing what I need to do to find a dating partner”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.rothman-therapy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Rothmanpsychotherapy
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-rothman-39547340?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android
