David Low, MS PhD DTh, Spiritual Counseling, Philadelphia, No Insurance
About
Greetings! I welcome you interest. And yes, I have credentials but CANNOT EVALUATE YOU FOR LEGAL OR MEDICAL AUTHORITIES, if that is your situation. My website is davidlowmsphd.com. I will turn 70 this year (2024--the picture is one year old), so I have a great deal of life experience counseling, teaching, travelling, living in spiritual communities and so on. Plus a strong 30-year marriage.
In my sessions I do everything possible to make you comfortable and feeling safe. My style is informal and personable, and I think it’s important that you be assured that NOTHING is off limits to talk about, and that we will double-check to be sure I really get what you are saying! If there is real trust in our relationship we can’t go wrong. There will be constant faith and encouragement from me that you CAN make progress on your issues, however much or little. The most rewarding feedback I get is to the effect that I care for my clients and/or students (I also teach adult ed classes) “I felt loved,” one person said.
I will never be impatient with you. Why? Because I believe that everyone comes from the same profound source and, therefore, in the end is equally deserving of the same greatest happiness and enlightenment. Whoever you may be, I BELIEVE YOU ALREADY HAVE ALL THE KNOWLEDGE AND INNER RESOURCES YOU NEED to get happier, regardless of your situation. You just may need help accessing it.
We will get things done in our sessions. Although I need to get to know in detail and have my own process for doing that, I always ask, “In what practical way can I help you right now?” You will get homework… what happens between sessions, after all--in your life--is ultimately more important than the sessions themselves. If you're open to it, I like to email or text clients to check in and see if they’re on track with what we want to accomplish together.
I don’t take insurance. First sessions arer incentivized at $40, $80/hour after that. After the next session (at $80) if you can't afford that we can talk about it. As long as your attitude is in the right place, I don't like turning people away who really need the help.
Blessings and good luck in your journey through life!!
Photos and videos
Reviews
Anthony I.
Christine T.
Ariana V.
Jared J.
Barbara S.
Matt K.
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
I get to know them in informal conversation before moving onto a basic structure and format for assessing the client's issues. This always includes assessing the client's goals, and the question, "What is the single most important thing that I can help you with right now?" Quite often we do a basic meditation or relaxation technique (we do it in the session), and at least one concrete homework assignment to be sure something gets done. At the end I get them to talk about how the session went for them and what parts of it they thought were or were not helpful.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
70 years worth of life in June of this year ('24), so I guess I qualify as an elder.!Plus a strong 30-year marriage, so I'm good with couples even thought that is not my specialty. Otherwise, specifically, about 10 years counseling, 10 years college teaching and more counseling, and about 10 years academic training, and about 10 years full-time spiritual seeking and wandering when I could afford it. I wrote a spirituality textbook that I use for clients interested in that aspect of my work.
PhD--Religion--lots of counseling in the classroom setting, believe me!! Students often want to know how to handle their religious parents.
DTh--Doctor of Theology and ordained Interfaith Minister
MS--Community Counseling; internship in substance abuse (and 7 years experence in that field later). Lots of anthropology in this curriculum, so good with indigenous / multicultural issues.
Certified 5-Star Dream Analysis method; practiced in Archetypal / Projective and a bit of Natural Dreamwork methods.
40 years yoga/meditation; have taught meditation, religion courses (Buddhist Ethics, etc.) around Philadelphia for 20 + years.
Recent course/certification in basic CBT
A spiritual pedigree too detailed to go into; see the ABOUT ME section in my website, davidlowmsphd.com
Do you have a standard pricing system for your services? If so, please share the details here.
First sessions discounted to $40 as an incentive, $80/hour after that. $70 if you buy a package of four sessions. If you can't afford that after a while, we'll talk about it. I hate to turn people away who really need the help.
I can relate to wanting to "check out" a counselor by having a conversation with him or her, before committing to a whole session. On the other hand, the client wants to describe everything hoping that he'll get what he needs without a session, which I understand, but which isn't fair to the counselor. A happy medium on that is ONLY $40 for an initial one-hour session.
How did you get started in this business?
Substance abuse internship in 1985 for my Masters degree.
What types of customers have you worked with?
All kinds, over the years... lots of minorites and hispanics in substance abuse experience (as well as whites of course), some couples, and mostly white and some AAmerican women in dreamwork. Lots of college students from teaching days, as well. Most of my clients now tend to be people in their 30s thru 60s, dealing with anxiety, depression etc., AND deeper philosophical issues (again, often without realizing it).
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
The other day, a client really got how her dream was telling her to accept her daugher's choice of husband, and her own strained relationship with this son-in-law, as her KARMA, and not as HER FAULT. She came to tears realizing it was simply what life had in store for her, and not something that she caused or contributed to. Another recently cried for a half-hour as a result of understandings connected with doing his first meditation--on his own!--after I taught him the technique. Also, I'd have to say that, in general, it's great to see two people rediscover how they really do love and respect each other, once you get them communicating again!
Plus, I've seen lots of CBT situations, etc. which are less dramatic but just as meaningful to clients.
What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a pro in your area of expertise?
Be sure the person is older, has a lot of spiritually-oriented life experience, is really easygoing to talk to, and never makes you feel stupid or anxious. There's nothing worse than someone who is too formal and who just give you short answers to questions which are really important to you. If your issues involve relationships, divorce, that sort of thing, be sure that your counselor has a strong, decades-long marriage of his or her own.
What questions should customers think through before talking to pros about their needs?
I would make a list of major issues, and then break each of them down in as much detail as you can. If dreams are involved, write them out and offer to send them to the therapist ahead of time (if he or she does dreamwork). More generally, I would take the time to think through anything in your life that you have major difficulty with, even if it doesn't seem to be related to your problem situation. It probably does!!