About David Heliotis

My journey into this work began in 2012, when I volunteered at the Berkeley Free Clinic as a peer counselor. In the clinic’s training, I learned the foundations of person-centered counseling skills and developed skills in active listening and holding people in non-judgmental positive regard. In my years at the clinic, I worked with Berkeley’s homeless community, UC Berkeley students, and other’s needing to feel heard. My experience at the free clinic affirmed my capacity to be a counselor, and I attended Sonoma State University for my Masters in Counseling.

While working towards my degree, I worked at the Lomi Psychotherapy Clinic, which specializes in mindfulness-based and somatic (body-aware) psychotherapy. At Lomi I learned how to go beyond just listening to my clients. By engaging more directly, I could support people in having deeper experience of their whole self – their thoughts, emotions and sensations. As a therapist, I see great change begin to happen when people come to know and accept their whole selves.