Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you use our links to purchase.

David Chittenden

Counsellor profile

David Chittenden, ACA

Australia

ACA counsellor specialising in relationships and anger

Continue with David

Key details

  • CredentialsACA
  • RegistrationACA, Australia / 15684
  • Experience16 years
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • LocationAustralia

About

  • Stress and anxiety
  • Relationship communication
  • Anger and self-control

About David

David Chittenden is an ACA counsellor in Australia with 16 years of professional experience. He helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationship strain and big life changes. He also supports issues such as self-esteem, motivation and anger.

David meets people who are dealing with grief, trauma and intimacy concerns. He has worked with clients on parenting, blended family challenges and fatherhood issues. He also has experience with chronic illness, disability and sexual cultures such as BDSM and kink.

His background includes work across relationship-focused approaches and individual therapy. He uses a range of methods to address thinking patterns, emotional reactions and communication breakdowns. Conversations aim to make problems more manageable and to build practical ways of coping.

In sessions David draws on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Existential ideas alongside relational tools from the Gottman Method. He may also use hypnotherapy and Jungian concepts where they fit a person's goals. The focus is on clear steps rather than jargon, and on understanding what causes flare-ups of anger or recurring conflict.

People who prefer straightforward, practical conversations report finding the approach helpful when anger affects work or family life. He asks about what matters most and negotiates a plan based on that. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.

How sessions work

How his approaches translate to online sessions

David commonly blends Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and the Gottman Method in session. CBT looks at thoughts and behaviours that keep problems going and offers practical exercises to change them. It can help with anger that shows up as repeated reactions or with anxiety that feeds irritability. The Gottman Method focuses on communication patterns and conflict skills, useful when anger affects a relationship.

He also uses elements of Existential Therapy to look at values, meaning and the choices people make. That approach suits people who want to understand why certain frustrations feel so important and how to reframe priorities. Finding the best mix of methods is collaborative; the client and therapist discuss goals and try approaches that fit the person’s needs and preferences.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy around work, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when days are busy. It also supports more consistent follow-up, enabling practical homework and communication exercises to happen between sessions.

Areas of focus

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsSelf esteemCoping with life changes

Also works with

LGBTTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesDepressionCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

BDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDissociationDivorce and separationFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImmigration issuesInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSexual assault and abuseSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Existential TherapyGottman MethodHypnotherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

16+ years

Listed in

Australia

Languages

English

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does he address?

He works with stress, anxiety, relationships, anger and life changes, plus related issues such as grief, trauma, parenting and self-esteem.

What is his therapy style?

David uses practical, conversational sessions. He focuses on thinking patterns, emotional reactions and communication skills to reduce flare-ups.

How much experience does he have?

He has 16 years of professional experience working with adults on relationship and individual concerns.

What credentials and location are listed?

David is an ACA counsellor based in Australia.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients book sessions?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How do sessions and cost work?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I get started?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.

Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A registration can be checked with the body that issued it.

Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is unsafe, use the crisis numbers.

Back to all therapists

David Chittenden

Continue with David