About

Hi there, I'm David! My name is David Braun. I am a licensed clinical social worker who began my clinical work in a residential treatment setting in Colorado in the early 70's. After surviving three years of that experience, I continued my education and completed my social work graduate degree in 1978 at Loyola U. in Chicago. I subsequently completed additional trainings at the Institute of Psychoanalysis and a substance abuse treatment credential at Harold Washington College. My primary clinical experience is in child and adolescent therapy and collateral work w/ parents. My first twelve years of practice involved younger children. For the next twenty-four years, I was a school social worker at New Trier High School in Winnetka, IL. My roles in that setting included treatment of adolescents, collateral work with their parents, and consultation with staff. Additionally, I maintained a private practice and DUI evaluation and substance abuse treatment license. After retiring from this job in 2014, I soon became somewhat bored with retirement and returned to part time work, primarily with older adults. I also maintained a role with Hospice of the North Shore between 2008-14. My approach After working as a child and adolescent therapist for almost 40 years, I would describe my approach as psychodynamic, solution focused, and eclectic. One of my roles at the high school was coordinator of a peer mediation program. This work involved acquiring training and skills in methods of seeking resolution of conflict and managing problems. I then was involved in training students in these methods and supervising the work of facilitating conflict resolution with their peers. This experience has influenced my approach e.g., in working with couples. My preferred method in couples work is to begin by meeting with each partner individually, e.g., for three sessions.