Dr David Helfand, PsyD
During more than a decade of professional service, I have helped hundreds of people create a happier marriage and a more fulfilled life through short-term therapy solutions.
Meet Dr. David Helfand, PsyD
I specialize in helping couples rekindle their marriage or make an honest decision about separation. As a Licensed Psychologist for the past decade, I have guided hundreds of couples from a marriage crisis into peace and fulfillment through my intensive marriage retreats.
My Approach
My approach is direct and evidence-based, grounded in neuroscience, attachment theory, and real-world skills. I specialize in private marriage retreats—just one couple at a time—designed to accomplish in a few days what often takes a year or more in traditional therapy. I’ve also been interviewed by numerous media outlets for my work in mindfulness, intimacy, and innovative tools like neurofeedback and brain mapping.
I’ve always been drawn to the mind. I studied Psychology and Philosophy at the University of Vermont, worked in social services, became a certified yoga teacher, and eventually earned my doctorate in Clinical Psychology from William James College. Along the way, I became certified in Kripalu Yoga and started a yoga business called “Conscious Being Yoga” teaching in corporate settings, private homes, and running small retreats until 2014. That experience deepened my understanding of how the nervous system holds stress, and how the body and mind must work together for real emotional healing.
My Personal Journey
Like most people, I’ve had my share of struggles: anxiety, depression, insomnia, and questions around my identity and purpose. On the outside, I looked like I had it together. But inside, I was often overwhelmed. During adolescence, I didn’t know how to form close friendships. I doubted myself in relationships. And while I found schoolwork easy, my emotional world lagged behind.
I started reading everything I could about personal wellness: meditation, yoga, biofeedback, and self-help philosophies. In high school, I formed a hypothesis that would shape everything that followed: If you can learn to reprogram your brain, most suffering can be alleviated.
I tested that idea on myself, and found it was mostly true, with one major caveat: the people around us profoundly impact our well-being. It’s not enough to master your inner world. You also have to learn how to navigate your relationships.
I met my wife, Anna, in 2012, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. She’s also a therapist, and I credit her with doing for my emotional life what meditation and neuroscience did for my mind and body. She gave me permission to fully be myself, and still does.
As a father and husband, I can now look back and see how every part of this journey is connected. From studying the brain to building loving relationships, I feel incredibly fortunate to help others do the same: to live more fully, love more honestly, and show up more authentically in their own lives.
I believe couples deserve honest guidance and real tools, not just talk. If your marriage is in crisis, or if you’re ready to finally face the truth of your relationship, I’d be honored to help.
Consider A Marriage Counseling Retreat
If you are ready to fix your troubled marriage or relationship, we can help. A private Marriage Counseling Retreat can help you and your partner enhance your marriage by addressing the underlying issues through a compassionate, direct, and effective process.
Already Signed Up For A Retreat?
If you and your partner have already scheduled your retreat with Dr David Helfand, please review the resource page for information about next steps, local accommodations, and other helpful tips to get the most benefit out of your retreat experience.