Today we’d like to introduce you to David Burgess.
Hi David, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a child, I loved helping others in my home, church, and community. My love for Christ and passion for serving and helping others thrive led me here.
I joined the U.S. Army after graduating from high school, where I spent time advising and counseling junior enlisted soldiers in navigating various life stressors. I was also fortunate to have had great supervisors who poured into me, which helped me grow both personally and professionally. During this time, I met my wife, and we had a daughter, where the challenges of being a father and husband further shaped my character and passion for seeing others grow into who God called them to be. Seeing my personal growth and the growth of those I served motivated me to deepen my understanding of how to help others thrive in life. That desire eventually led me to transition from the military and pursue a professional career where I could serve God and others at a higher level, more closely aligned with God’s calling for my life.
After transitioning from the military, I spent several years in undergraduate and graduate schools learning how to provide clinical mental health services to those in need. Those were some of the most cherished years of my life as my wife and I watched our now two young children begin to grow. During this time, I began cultivating deep, lasting relationships within my community while serving as a tutor, mediator, and grievance liaison—relationships/roles that I still maintain today. After completing school, I started working in outpatient mental health clinics, providing care for military personnel and their loved ones, where I was inspired by witnessing the transformative power of embracing the perfect love of Jesus Christ while supporting them in overcoming challenges related to depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, and other life obstacles. My desire to see others thrive and transform through the power of the Holy Spirit burned brighter, leading to my current work in private practice at Full Armor Counseling & Ministry. Having Christ as the cornerstone in every aspect of my life fills me with immense comfort and joy, and the love I receive through Him inspires me to serve in ministry. I can wholeheartedly say that I would feel incomplete if I did not walk in this calling.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has not always been smooth, and I have faced many struggles along the way. Like many, I grew up in a single-parent home, which brought various challenges. Serving in the military meant navigating numerous obstacles and making sacrifices as a parent, spouse, and brother. Graduate and post-graduate school, along with clinical practice, have also presented countless challenges. However, I have never been alone in these struggles. The Lord, my siblings, spouse, children, fellow service members, cohorts, and colleagues have all supported me through each challenge. In fact, I am grateful for these struggles. They have played a significant role in my growth, shaping who I am and where I stand today.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Full Armor Counseling & Ministry offers a range of services, including traditional talk therapy, integrative Christian counseling, pastoral counseling, evangelism, and community outreach. Our services are tailored to meet the needs of individuals, couples, families, organizations, and churches. Clients can access services via telehealth throughout North Carolina and South Carolina, with flexible online sessions available. Certain services are covered by Aetna, Cigna, Medicaid, Meritain Health, Optum, Oscar Health, Oxford, and Quest Behavioral Health.
I specialize in providing mental health treatment for individuals, couples, and families facing various challenges, including depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, grief, substance use, stress, chronic pain, and issues related to military and veteran matters. What sets my practice apart is my clinically flexible, holistic, and integrative approach to enhancing my clients’ overall well-being.
I treasure the opportunity to integrate my faith into my practice, something that many people may be unwilling or unable to do due to personal or workplace factors. While I maintain a Christian worldview in all aspects of my life, including my professional practice, this primarily expresses itself through offering compassionate, respectful, and evidence-based care that aligns with biblical truth.
Since I serve individuals from diverse faith groups and backgrounds, I meet my clients where they are, respecting their choice to incorporate their faith into their care or not. By creating this safe, non-judgmental space where my clients feel heard and respected, regardless of their beliefs and background, I empower them to take meaningful steps towards unlocking their full potential and transforming their lives.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
On this journey, I’ve learned that without God, you can do nothing, but with God, all things are possible. I’ve experienced and observed how putting trust in Christ can make the impossible possible. Learning these lessons has meant learning to be patient and to understand that things are not always what they seem. Over time, I’ve become more confident in God’s faithfulness and realized that waiting patiently on the Lord is worth it!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fullarmorcm.org/
