About Dr David Eckel
I provide a gentle, warm and sensitive approach to counselling.
I am an accredited mental health social worker with over twenty years’ experience counselling adults in community health, specialising in the areas of PTSD and complex trauma, GLBTQIA+ mental health and alcohol and other drug issues. I was co-founder and co-therapist in the Women’s Trauma Recovery Program, a collaboration between Swinburne University and Access Health and Community. I have also worked in counselling, project work and clinical supervision roles at IPC Health, Victorian AIDS Council and Access Health and Community.
I am passionate about trauma treatment and attachment and have completed my PhD exploring the relationship between Internal Family Systems Therapy and Attachment Theory. I am a trained creative arts therapist and have experience in supervision and training, having previously taught at the Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP).
Focus Areas
Relationship and attachment difficulties
Stress, anxiety and depression
PTSD and Complex PTSD
Substance use issues
Life transitions
Grief and Loss
LGBTQIA+ identity and wellbeing
Availability
Accepting new clients
Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD question: How might IFS Therapy conceptualise and treat adults with attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety?) Swinburne University
Master of Mental Health Sciences, Monash University
Master of Social Work, Deakin University
Master of Counselling, Monash University
Master of Creative Arts Therapy, RMIT University
Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Sciences, Monash University
Bachelor of Teaching (Honours), University of Melbourne
Certificate IV – Alcohol and Other Drugs Work, Taskforce Community Agency
Registrations & Memberships
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (435696) – Australian Association of Social Workers
Registered Circle of Security Facilitator – Circle of Security Program
Full Member – EMDR Association of Australia
Member – International Attachment Network
Past Member of Motivational Network of Trainers (MINT)
Websites
Approach
Attachment:
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) Level One (2026) – Diana Fosha PhD
Mentalizing Based Treatment Basic Training (2025) – Professor Anthony Bateman
Adult Attachment Projective (AAP) Coding and Classification Training (2024) – Professor Emerita Carol George
Attachment and Psychopathology [DMM] (2022) – Dr. Clark Baim
Circle of Security Facilitator Training (2022)
Interpersonal Therapy for Adults and Adolescents Level A (2021)
Gottman Method Couples Therapy [Level One] (2021)
Treating Attachment Pathology in Adults [Three Pillars Model] (2019) – Dr. Daniel P. Brown
Trauma:
IFS Therapy Level One (2017) + Level Two (2018)
EMDR Therapy Level One (2013) + Level Two (2016)
Deep Brain Re-Orienting Level One (2022) + Level Two (2024) + Level Three (2023)
The Rhythm of Regulation Level One [Polyvagal Theory] (2020)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (2017)
