About David Garvin
David J. H. Garvin, MSW, LMSW
Psychotherapist | Consultant | Educator
Many people begin therapy when something in their life no longer feels sustainable. You may feel stuck in patterns that repeat in relationships, overwhelmed by stress or anxiety, struggling with anger, or simply uncertain about how you arrived at this place in your life.
Therapy can provide a space to step back, gain perspective, and begin making meaningful changes.
I bring more than 40 years of experience working in behavioral health and social work, including nationally recognized work in domestic violence intervention and relationship dynamics. My approach is thoughtful, grounded, and collaborative. Clients often describe me as calm, direct, and able to hold complex conversations without judgment.
I work with adults experiencing anxiety, depression, anger, relationship conflict, trauma, substance use concerns, and major life transitions. I also have extensive experience working with men addressing emotional disconnection or patterns of harm, as well as women seeking empowerment and healing after difficult experiences.
My work is trauma-informed and draws from evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and existential frameworks. At the center of my work is the belief that the therapeutic relationship itself is one of the most powerful tools for change.
Therapy with me is not about quick fixes. It is about gaining clarity, strengthening emotional insight, and developing realistic ways to move forward with integrity and purpose.
If you are considering therapy, I welcome you to reach out to schedule an initial consultation to see whether working together feels like the right fit.
Recognitions & Leadership
- Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, Eastern Michigan University School of Social Work (1990)
- Summit III Award for collaborative efforts to end domestic violence (1997)
- NASW-MI Social Worker of the Year (2009). Earned the prestigious honor for his work in the areas of domestic violence, mental health and adoption.
- Glenn R. Winters Award (2017), honoring non-judges for improving the judiciary. (renamed the Nachtigal Award in 2018) from the American Judges Association. The Award is given: “To a non-judge who has made a substantial contribution toward improving the judiciary.”
Appointed by Michigan Governor John Engler, David co-chaired the Governor’s Task Force on Battering Intervention Standards, culminating in a comprehensive set of standards in 1998. He has served on the Domestic Violence Benchbook Advisory Committee and collaborated on national projects with the National Institute of Justice and the Office on Violence Against Women. David has been teaching Group Work and Domestic Violence courses in the School of Social Work at Eastern Michigan University since 2011.
Current Initiatives
David leads the effort to establish the National Network of Abuse Intervention Programs (NNAIP), uniting experts from across the U.S. to advance innovative solutions in abusive partner interventions.
Ready to get started?
