Where Theory Meets Practice
Hi, I’m David.
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 15 years of experience in community mental health, private practice, clinical supervision, and behavioral health leadership. Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to one central idea: healing isn’t about becoming someone different—it’s about becoming more fully integrated.
My work is informed by attachment theory, trauma treatment, CBT, DBT, ACT, IFS, EFT, psychodynamic therapy, object relations, narrative therapy, and Jungian psychology. Rather than viewing these approaches as competing theories, I see them as different perspectives on the same human experience.
I’m also a passionate sand tray therapist and miniature collector. I’ve spent countless hours exploring how symbols, stories, relationships, emotions, and beliefs come together to help people make sense of their lives.
I created The Integrated Self to share practical, thoughtful, and clinically grounded resources that therapists can use immediately. Everything in this shop is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice—helping therapists spend less time creating materials and more time doing what matters most: connecting with clients.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope these resources support your work as much as creating them has supported mine.
— David Tan, LMFT
