My Bio | David M. King

My decision to follow a career in human services was not a straight path. My logo, a lantern, has personal significance. In my case, I initially took a different career path—my undergraduate degree is in journalism– and I worked for three years as a radio news director. After some other twist and turns, I began to do some soul-searching to discover a career that connects with my strengths, interests, personality, and values. I credit several sources of light symbolized by the lantern for helping me choose a path and a direction that led to a graduate degree program for counseling. This experience of searching and discovering has shaped me as a therapist who is interested in helping people discover their best self in work, relationships, volunteer activities, religious and community service, and recreational pursuits.

I received an M. Ed. in Counselor Education from Penn State in 1992. I began my new career as a counselor at an inpatient addictions treatment facility. That same year I was hired as an outpatient therapist with an agency that specializes in substance abuse treatment. In subsequent years I became the agency director and clinical supervisor. In 2011 I started a part-time private practice while continuing to work at Clear Concepts Counseling. I began a full time private practice in August of 2012 opening an office in Bellefonte and joining Scenery Park Psychology Group in State College, comprised of independent practitioners.

I am very fortunate to have the privilege and opportunity to help clients with a variety of issues I have been able to identify as areas of clinical interests. The services I offer have been shaped by the following experiences.

Professional Experience:

• Over 20 years of clinical experience counseling a wide variety of client populations, including substance abuse, co-occurring disorders, mental health, couples, and families.
• Significant experience in the following group therapy topics and formats: addiction recovery, emotional regulation, co-dependency, and a Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).
• Supervised numerous counselors in three offices, and trained new counselors.
• Worked as part of a management team to develop comprehensive programming in four offices.
• Served on numerous committees and boards with an emphasis on community education on substance use prevention and treatment options.
• Conducted workshops on closed head injury; divorce recovery, public domain assessments for practical clinical use; CIT presenter on Co-Occurring Disorders. Also, provided Clear Concepts Counseling staff training programs.