Dr. Zierk's
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David W. Zierk, Psy.D. (email )
Licensed Clinical Psychologist

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.),
  U. of Denver, 2005

• M.A. in Counseling Psychology, University of Colorado, 1985

• B.A., Psychology, University of Colorado, 1979

Instead of beginning with a traditional autobiographic sketch of my professional qualifications, I thought you might be more interested in my philosophy and the way I view how therapeutic change occurs. This is a broad topic, one that could easily fill pages. The following paragraph is my best effort of providing you a snapshot into the way I ponder about difficult and complex problems.

I have always been drawn to things invisible, ungraspable, yet perishable and breakable. What is more intangible and fragile than relationships? The complexity of connection, the promise of intimacy, and the security of belonging hold so many clues as to how we become who we are: a child’s desire to be picked for a team; a teenager’s hope to be included into a friendship circle; a woman’s yearning to be loved, even seduced; a man’s drive to be respected and placed high on a pedestal; a couple’s longing for a child; another couple’s struggle to find meaning and purpose amidst their drama-filled and laughter-starved marriage; and a family’s hope for unbroken togetherness and a shoebox full of pictures.

These are but a handful of examples of what makes the human condition so unique, puzzling, and fascinating, all at once. The common denominator amongst these examples is vulnerability – the quality or state of being unprotected, assailable, defenseless, exposed, potentially harmed, and, curiously, potentially embraced.

Vulnerability provokes contradictory feelings among and within us. When a person’s sense of self, their identity, upon which their personal worth is calculated, falls outside of their control or placed in the hands of another, it is vulnerability that makes the moment rich with excitement or terrifying beyond measure. It is at this moment of vulnerability we experience life’s greatest joy, suffering and mystery. Within the embrace of vulnerability, when we lose sight of the safety net, we find ourselves most open to the different offerings of life and, interestingly, it is when we feel most alive.

Professional Interests / Specialties

• Interactive style blending warmth, compassion, and humor

• Helping individuals, couples and families to have difficult conversations, which helps them overcome obstacles that seem insurmountable, problems that appear unsolvable, and issues that have been undiscussable

• Helping men and women overcome depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, and relationship problems

• Helping people break long-standing patterns and make positive changes in their lives

• Helping couples communicate, resolve conflicts, build intimacy and teamwork

• Special interest in people's resilience and ability to reconnect with their passion and move toward meaningful goals and life-enhancing achievements

• Expertise in working with individuals, couples, and families with an emphasis in reality-based and acceptance and commitment-based therapy

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Helpful Resources

Specialty Services

valuableParenting™  How to effectively train your children according to your values and standards, and deal with typical daily challenges in a complex and ever-changing world and culture.

valuableMarriage™  Improving your "relationship IQ" (r IQ™) through courage, compassionate confrontation, collaborative  communication, moral imagination, and commitment.

valuableDivorce™

A radical new idea of moving beyond the stigma or perceived shame of divorce, and focusing on what matters most: being committed to your family’s wellbeing in a bi-nuclear structure, and re-contracting the relationship based on your core values.