I love working with...

• Individuals. My specialties include helping people deal with anxiety and helping people overcome past hurts.
• Ministry leaders and their families. As a pastor myself for over 35 years, I understand the unique challenges of ministry, and what it takes to navigate them well.
• Parents and teens. The teen years can be difficult! I've worked with youth for many years and bring all that experience to counseling sessions.
• Couples. I help couples of all ages and stages. I also offer a six-session premarital counseling package that uses the PREPARE/ENRICH assessment.

Dave's Background:

Dr. Dave Friese has been a pastor for over thirty years, primarily focusing on youth and families. Dave has developed and supervised the counseling ministries at churches, and he has a passion for mentoring others. He has spoken at numerous conventions, camps, classes and seminars, including Youth Specialties National Youth Worker Convention, GLASS Convention, National Network of Youth Workers, Intake, Talbot Seminary, and San Diego Christian College.

Dave has a Doctorate in Educational Ministry with an emphasis on Marriage, Family and Counseling from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Masters in Christian Education from Talbot Seminary. He is certified as a Pastoral Counselor through the Board of Christian Professional and Pastoral Counselors, and he is a charter member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC).

Dave is trained as a group facilitator by MarriageStrong, and as a mediator by Peacemaker Ministries. He also has advanced training from Torn Asunder Ministries, and is a trained PREP instructor. Dave is certified in the use of PREPARE/ENRICH, a widely-used premarital and marital assessment tool.

Dave sees counseling on three levels: 1) The presenting issue, 2) communication and conflict resolution skills, and 3) underlying attachment needs. He believes that in order to understand, heal, and develop healthy skills, we need to explore root causes. Dave uses an approach that integrates biblical values with insights from interpersonal neurobiology.

Dave and his wife, Becky, started a nonprofit, Restore & Rebuild Ministries, in 2014.  They opened the doors of Restore & Rebuild Counseling in January 2015, and are amazed at how God has used it to touch people's lives.

Dave also works part-time at his church, Redeemer Presbyterian San Diego, as Director of Adult Education.

Dave and Becky have been married for over 35 years. They have four grown children.

Dave enjoys photography, beaches, and discussing philosophy and apologetics. He loves working out and sports of all kinds. He loves to read and learn.