Empathy, our ability to understand and connect emotionally with others, is the key to our emotional well being. Our brains are hard wired to understand others and to seek understanding and attunement from our loved ones. Unfortunately, our past experiences of disrupted attachment or emotional trauma can interfere with our ability to provide and receive empathy.
My approach to psychotherapy, rooted in contemporary Relational Psychoanalysis, seeks to repair our capacity to find, maintain, and provide empathic connections to others. This approach works well with both couples and individuals. Many of my couples clients feel that they are able to grow as individuals through the therapy process, overcoming lifelong self-defeating patterns.
My approach to psychotherapy, rooted in contemporary Relational Psychoanalysis, seeks to repair our capacity to find, maintain, and provide empathic connections to others. This approach works well with both couples and individuals. Many of my couples clients feel that they are able to grow as individuals through the therapy process, overcoming lifelong self-defeating patterns.
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Poetry and Psychoanalysis explores the lessons that poetry offers to the art of emotional healing. It includes a survey of literature from Virgil to Dante to Caludia Rankine, as well as the lesson from poems about children and poems that are difficult to understand rationally. It is of interest both to poetry readers and therapists.
Poetry and Psychoanalysis: The Opening of the Field does, in fact, open our field. It opens our capacity to use our imagination in our work, indeed our lives, as psychotherapists. Poetry is the key to that opening. In Shaddock's hand the poetry is not 'applied' to therapy, rather it inspires.
I wouldn't have imagined I could read a book that would teach me something new both about psychoanalysis (especially about how the analyst listens) and about poets I have lived with for decades, Dante, Blake.Everyone interested in either poetry or psychoanalysis should read this book. In Poetry and Psychoanalysis: The Opening of the Field, David Shaddock reveals the unexpected kinship between clinical psychoanalysis and the art of poetry.
I wouldn't have imagined I could read a book that would teach me something new both about psychoanalysis (especially about how the analyst listens) and about poets I have lived with for decades, Dante, Blake.Everyone interested in either poetry or psychoanalysis should read this book. In Poetry and Psychoanalysis: The Opening of the Field, David Shaddock reveals the unexpected kinship between clinical psychoanalysis and the art of poetry.
From the pure light of the High Sierra to sandwich wrappers blown against a chain fence, David Shaddock has the visionary ability to see, everywhere, the numinosity of what surrounds us. This empowers him to approach also the Holy within the deep tangled griefs of our lives. David Shaddock discovers splendor in the mundane.
The central theme of this book is inclusion--in particular the inclusion of the therapist's own subjectivity as a constituent part of the patient's ongoing psychological life and the inclusion of the patient's intimate relationships as part of the focus of psychotherapy. At a more general level, it is about the inclusion of ever-widening contexts, historical, relational, and societal in our understanding of personal experience.
Reviews (7)
Dave Y.
Jan 09, 2020
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I'm truly astonished to read such negative reviews of Dr. Shaddock. My wife and I both credit him with helping us turn our relationship around during a period of intense crisis. With us, he's always been patient, fair, compassionate, and an excellent listener. But above all, he seems wise -- a quality in short supply among contemporary therapists who seem to rely exclusively on either technique or meds to deal with problems that can only be reached by a probing and deeply empathetic intelligence.
Dr. Shaddock is old-school, but in the best way possible. If you're looking for
Dr. Shaddock is old-school, but in the best way possible. If you're looking for
Steve P.
Oct 26, 2018
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I saw David with my wife in couples therapy. We stayed in because my wife found him supportive and I was hopeful of saving our relationship.
He was not supportive of me however, and seemed unable to be neutral or deal with any emotion (including tears). There were many occasions in which he felt a need to "protect" her from me even though there were no issues of abuse in our relationship. He never saw a need to protect me and did not evaluate suicidal thoughts I was having.
He seemed unaware or uncaring that he was taking sides and the damage that did to me. He seemed unaware of his
He was not supportive of me however, and seemed unable to be neutral or deal with any emotion (including tears). There were many occasions in which he felt a need to "protect" her from me even though there were no issues of abuse in our relationship. He never saw a need to protect me and did not evaluate suicidal thoughts I was having.
He seemed unaware or uncaring that he was taking sides and the damage that did to me. He seemed unaware of his
Jacob S.
Mar 18, 2017
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David is the worst example of a therapist i can think of in recent history his hypocritical sexiest point of view can only be seconded by his self absorbed personal demeanor i would not recommend him to anyone seeking a half decent therapist or any help for that matter i cannot recommend him in any good continence
K. S.
Jun 22, 2013
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My marriage was very high conflict, and Dr. Shaddock struggled along with us mightily. I sometimes had the sense he was colluding with my partner, and I had to call him on it, but perhaps that was a tactic. In any case, the marriage was a total failure. Looking back, I can but wish Dr. Shaddock had shown a better capacity for self regulation.
Summer R.
May 15, 2013
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After having worked with Dr. Shaddock for many years, I can honestly state that this man has saved my life!
I found Dr. Shaddock to be very gentle, compassionate and patient--especially when dealing with my painful childhood and family of origin issues. Dr. Shaddock has helped me examine my past, walk through it and build a better, happier life.
If you are looking for that "quick fix," Dr. Shaddock is probably not the therapist for you. However, if you want to take a good hard look at yourself and your family of origin issues, try Dr. Shaddock.
I found Dr. Shaddock to be very gentle, compassionate and patient--especially when dealing with my painful childhood and family of origin issues. Dr. Shaddock has helped me examine my past, walk through it and build a better, happier life.
If you are looking for that "quick fix," Dr. Shaddock is probably not the therapist for you. However, if you want to take a good hard look at yourself and your family of origin issues, try Dr. Shaddock.
Douglas W.
Nov 27, 2012
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No argument, Dr. Shaddock is a failure at interior design. But for me, he has been the most perceptive, thoughtful, respectful, and yes, empathic therapist I could ask for. Inevitably, a successful relationship between therapist and patient comes down to chemistry. It's up to the shopping patient to figure that out for him/herself, and not waste time if there's not a connection. Dr. Shaddock has been an invaluable companion and guide on my life's journey.
Dee L.
Aug 22, 2011
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This practitioner has the most depressing office I have ever encountered anywhere, it feels like what I imagine Romania was in its worst communist period. The waiting room is even worse, it's a dark old kitchen. While listening to his patient he sits slovenly on a rocking beat up chair and the lack of empathy becomes quickly obvious --matching in all aspects the morose surroundings. Do I need to add that the therapy sessions didn't help us?
