Understanding What Holds You Back — and Moving Beyond It

Many people who come to therapy are not in crisis. They are functioning—working, maintaining relationships, meeting responsibilities—but feel something is missing. They may find themselves holding back, overthinking, or avoiding risks that could lead to a more meaningful and fully lived life. Or, they may also notice patterns of self-defeating or self-sabotaging behavior that leave them feeling stuck or frustrated, without fully understanding why. These are just a couple reasons why people might enter psychotherapy. Some want help coping with a painful life event and some want help to change long-standing maladaptive patterns.

I’m David Goldberg, PsyD, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst in private practice in the Mountain Brook area of Birmingham, Alabama. I work with adults, adolescents, and college students, offering a space for thoughtful, in-depth exploration. I work with people experiencing depression, anxiety, grief, relationship issues, stress and trauma. My approach is not about judgment or quick solutions, but about helping you understand the deeper psychological patterns that shape your life.

With over 25 years of experience, my work focuses on going beyond surface-level symptom relief. Together, we explore the underlying emotional conflicts, fears, and habits of mind that may limit freedom and vitality and contribute to painful symptoms and self-defeating patterns.

I offer psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychoanalysis, forms of treatment that emphasize insight, self-understanding, and lasting change. This is not a quick-fix approach. It is a process of discovering how you came to be who you are—and creating the possibility of living with greater openness, flexibility, and engagement. This approach is designed to attempt to get at the root causes of long-term problems.

I offer both in-person sessions at my private office and online sessions via Zoom. Also, as a PSYPACT licensed clinician, I can offer services to you via zoom if you reside in one of the 43 PSYPACT participating states.

If you’d like to begin a conversation, feel free to call. I typically return calls within one business day.