About Me

Set goals. Do challenging things. Trust the process. Be proud of the effort.

About David Zerella, LCSW

Most people who reach out to me are thoughtful, capable, and yet exhausted.

On the surface, their lives often look stable. They’re responsible. Educated. Productive.

But internally, they’re anxious, overthinking, questioning their direction, or quietly wondering whether the life they built still fits.

That tension — between competence and dissatisfaction — is where much of my work happens.

My Approach

I practice Rational Psychotherapy using CBT and REBT.

That means we don’t just talk about your week.

We examine the beliefs driving your emotional responses to the challenging conditions.

Anxiety, burnout, resentment, relationship conflict — these are rarely random. They are often fueled by rigid internal rules:

  • “I have to get this right.”
  • “I shouldn’t feel uncertain.”
  • “If I change paths, it means I failed.”
  • “I need clarity before I move.”

Much of emotional suffering comes not from circumstances alone, but from the demands we place on ourselves about those circumstances.

Our work is active and collaborative.

We identify the beliefs keeping you stuck and replace them with thinking that is more flexible, realistic, and sustainable.

This isn’t about blind positivity.

It’s about psychological flexibility.

Who I Work With

I often work with:

High-functioning professionals adults. Young adults navigating uncertainty with life’s transitions. Adults and adolescents dealing with anxiety and chronic overthinking. People questioning whether their current path still aligns with who they are. Individuals who feel pressure to “have it figured out”

Many of my clients eventually change something in their lives. Some change jobs. Some change relationships. Others change the way they relate to uncertainty or discomfort. Most change their thinking.

The goal isn’t to blow up your life.

The goal is to help you live it with less fear and less self-imposed pressure.

My Philosophy

Life transitions are inevitable. Careers evolve. Relationships shift. Identities mature.

If you’re fortunate (and with considerable effort) you will outgrow parts of your life.

I’ve experienced enough transitions personally — including divorce, building a blended family, and redefining roles — to know that growth rarely feels clean while it’s happening.

It’s uncomfortable. It challenges identity. It forces you to tolerate uncertainty.

But it also creates space for something more aligned.

In both therapy and in my own life, I’ve found that discipline often matters more than motivation. I’ve trained for and completed a half marathon, and the lesson mirrors therapy: progress is gradual, discomfort is part of the process, and consistency compounds over time.

You don’t need to solve your entire future this year.

You don’t need perfect clarity before taking action.

You do need the ability to tolerate uncertainty without catastrophizing it.

That’s what we build.

Outside the Office

I’m a father and value the responsibility and perspective that role brings. I write regularly on my blog, Rational Reflections, exploring anxiety, work, relationships, and the subtle ways rigid thinking shapes our lives.

I also maintain creative interests outside of therapy including creative writing (poetry). I practice strength training and cardio. (I do officially consider myself a runner nowadays.) All of which reinforce something I believe deeply: growth requires structure, reflection, and sustained effort.

I approach this work not only from clinical training, but from lived experience.

If You’re Considering Therapy

You don’t need to be in crisis to begin.

You may simply be tired of carrying pressure alone.

Or tired of thinking in circles.

Therapy with me is thoughtful, direct, and grounded. We will examine your thinking patterns, strengthen your tolerance for uncertainty, and help you move forward with more clarity and less emotional reactivity.

Not perfectly.

But rationally.