Clients with whom
David works well
Steve is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience treating adolescents. He believes that a diverse group makeup is a benefit to treatment, wherein students can learn from and support others of different ages, backgrounds, and therapeutic issues. However, he specializes in more internalizing disorders such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. School avoidance, OCD, learning differences, excessive video game use, neuroatypical features, and self-esteem issues are commonplace among his group makeup.
Steve DeBois is also recognized for his work with adolescents newly diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1, as well as those who have been navigating the diagnosis for years. He helps teens build self-awareness, social understanding, and practical skills that translate into everyday life. He is passionate about working with students who often see themselves as “incapable” or blame others, helping them develop the confidence, self-esteem, and accountability to fully embrace their true capacity. He incorporates strong family work into the therapeutic experience so that the student’s treatment can be enhanced by the family connection.
David's Education &
Prior Work Experience
David first joined the Second Nature team in 2007 as a Staff Mentor. After many years in the field and one year working primarily with clients and their families completing the program, he came to believe he could be of service as a clinician. David completed his Masters of Social Work at the University of Denver. David worked for the Jefferson County Public Defenders office in Colorado writing mitigation reports and providing supportive counseling for incarcerated adults. David also spent a year working as a Social Worker at the Colorado Mental Health Institute- Fort Logan serving an adult population with severe and persistent mental illness. David was a clinician at Odyssey House, a residential addiction treatment center before returning to Second Nature.
David's
Strengths
David has a very curious disposition. Using processing techniques rooted in Motivational Interviewing and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, David assists clients to identify dissonance within their lives and beliefs. David believes and teaches the clients to put into practice the simple concept that with awareness comes choice and with choice comes the power to be who they want to be. David has a strengths based approach which often contributes to helping the client begin to realize a more rounded and healthy identity.