“Having witnessed healing of bodies, minds, and spirits over thirty years, I firmly believe in the power of the human spirit and the ability of individuals to overcome and transcend the most difficult of circumstances.”
About Dr. Gustafson
Dr. David Gustafson PhD., RCC holds a Doctorate in Criminological Sciences from the Law Faculty at KULeuven, Belgium. Education and experience have equipped David to effectively assist his clients across a spectrum of presenting needs within his specialties: mental health, conflict resolution, mediation, trauma recovery, and resilience.
For over twenty-five years, Dave’s clients have attested to significant, even “powerfully healing” outcomes as a result of their work with him, including:
recovery from post-traumatic stress resulting from criminal incidents or
workplace trauma (including first responders); and
resolution of marital conflict in situations where the fabric of marriages and partnerships began to unravel: helping to reweave them, where that was the desired outcome, or to assisting partners to find the least traumatic path possible through the difficult straits of separation, divorce, and co-parenting).
Considered a pioneer in restorative justice program research, development, and implementation, Dave has expert knowledge of the workings of Criminal Justice and Canadian Corrections Systems. He has accompanied scores of people through the complexities of these systems.
Dave's extensive training and experience have helped shape his relationally-based style. He brings several counselling modalities to bear, depending on the needs and desires of each individual client.
Whether as a counselling clinician, trainer, or consultant, Dave’s clients attest to the fact that his engaging and facilitative relational style, combined with content and stories born of rich life experiences, enable him to bring theory to life and inspire them to grow and to thrive.
Dave is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), an Adjunct Professor in the School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University, and a member of the Leuven, Belgium Institute for Criminological Research. He is also a Knight of Honour, Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller.