David, a neurodivergent coach and therapist, bravely shares his journey navigating life after a TBI and embracing his unique neurodivergent experience. We delve into the nuances between life coaching and therapy, touching on addiction, mental health, and so much more. Learn more about David at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-walberg-62436947/
Bio: My name is David James Walberg. My life begun the streets of Kolkata, India which my Indian was Ramprasad Shaha. Born the streets of Kolkata, life started with trauma which became the foundation of who I am becoming today. Life changed for me when I was adopted and arrived in Alaska, USA to a foreign land, culture, people let along to live with a person who I would call my father. This was both a blessing, but also traumatic at the same time. Only to learn later in life that was PTSD for a child to be uproots from a world their only, culture, language, streets of food, starvations, malnutrition, and home of the slums.
PTSD, anxiety, dyslexia, other learning disabilities, ADHD, and few other disorders was definitely prevalent throughout my life. Growing up after being adopted to Alaska to a new world and family had its challenges and successes starting on September 25, 1983, when I arrived to Eagle River, Alaska at the age of 5 years old. I have a love for dogs and cats later in life. My first experience dogs were on the
streets of Kolkata, where are were competing for food just as I for survival. To only learn and connect with them here as friend and companion in my new world.
School was at the beginning was very different because I had to learn a new language let alone attend school, which my learning development was a few years behind everyone else. Went through 1 st and 2 nd grade in Alaska and then we moved out of state because at that time state was going through a recession in the 80s. We moved to Seattle and lived there for 6 months. Then we had to move again to outer communities of Atlanta, Georgia, which we lived there for
6 months. Then, we moved to the Marshall Islands, which we lived there for 2 years. I completed 4 th and 5 th grade there.
This is also the time of the experience when I was hit by a drunk driver to which I was in a body cast for 5 months, had to learn to how to walk again. Amazed how the community came together to support me and my family, along with traumatic mark that has left in my life. We moved back to Alaska to live back in Eagle River, where I finished 6 th through 12 th grade. Got my undergrad from the University of Alaska Anchorage with Bachelor’s Social Culture Anthropology/ minor in Business. Met my wife and the beautiful children she had already that became a part of my life and love. The love of a blended family along with adopting children, one of my life journeys. The love and adventures we have together with the joys and struggles. Went back to school and got my master’s degree in counseling psychology with a focus on working with neurodivergent individuals because of my own background and journey through life being neurodivergent.
With my skills and training as a neurodivergent coach and therapist, we will work on living skills, social interaction, academic scheduling and substance use disorder support. While working each client’s needs, my services will unique and specialized to each of them. My services are available to everyone no matter background and culture. We will explore friendship-seeking skills, communication skills, and finding resources that will help you. For employment resources, I can help you manage strong customer-service skills, how to properly use money, and how to manage credit. As your neurodivergent coach and therapist, I help explore your interests, talents, and connections, while enriching relationships with families, friends, and community.
For healing resources: www.blazebell.com
