Dave the Counsellor

David Nielsen is a skilled and insightful counsellor with over 20 years' professional experience. He is a member of the Australian Counselling Association, and has worked extensively in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. David specialises in providing effective therapeutic support to adolescents, individual adults, couples and families.
David is down-to-earth, nonjudgmental and respectful: he creates a safe and trusting environment for his clients to discuss, explore, and resolve their concerns. Even in the most trying of circumstances, David gives his clients the support they need to turn their most challenging circumstances into opportunities for positive change. David equips his clients with practical strategies and workable solutions to all manner of concerns and difficulties. David is especially skilled at helping clients to manage conflict and improve their relationships.
David has a client-centred and outcome-focused approach to counselling. He tailors each session according to his clients’ unique personal needs and situations. David integrates several contemporary modalities of counselling into his practice, including Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Systemic Family Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy. He is strongly committed to helping his clients achieve their personal and professional life goals.


David is a Level 4 Member of the Australian Counselling Association and is on the Australian National Register of Counsellors.

A Clinical Member of the ACA,

Has graduated from an ACA Accredited Course of study at minimum Degree Level.
Has a minimum of 6 years post qualification counselling experience, including minimum 1,000 client contact hours.
Has completed a minimum of 100 hours Professional Supervision and completes 10 hours Professional Supervision per annum.
Completes 25 Points of ACA approved Ongoing Professional Development per annum.

David has completed Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy, and he uses Gottman Method Couples Therapy in his therapy work..

David has completed training in family education and therapy with a special interest in relationship counselling, addiction and sexuality. David has been a trainer and lecturer in a large national counselling organisation, and has three counselling qualifications.

David has been a popular international speaker on issues related to family, marriage and sexuality. He has also managed a not-for-profit counselling centre and has supervised a wide variety of people, including counsellors and administrators. He has also had experience in a large NFP where most of the workers were volunteers, and where people skills were even more critical.

BA Family Therapy
Adv Dip Counselling and Family Therapy
M.A.C.A (Level 4)
MBTI Accredited
Prepare/Enrich Accredited Presenter