Marriage Counseling

David is incredibly adept at pinpointing the root cause of overly complex issues and simplifying them. He taught us to be strong as a single unit in order to be strong as a couple. He challenged us to, as individuals, look within, face our insecurities, confront our shortcomings, and celebrate our strengths. Further, he motivated us to better understand and uncover the needs of one another. As a result, we grew as individuals and as a couple, and are excited to continue this journey based on his insights. All in all, David was incredible. He is amazingly talented, bright, and giving and we often left his office mesmerized by his abilities as a counselor, life coach, and friend.

Nita and Sameer
Atlanta, Georgia – 2010

I came to David two years ago with my life in a shambles. I was physically ill, on the brink of divorce, jobless, terrified that I wouldn’t be able to get or keep a job, and drowning in debt. I had been to many counselors over the years but none spoke to me like David. David’s language is Truth and Love. He helped me face reality; the reality that I am a powerful human being. Today my health is better than it has been in a decade, I am approaching my two year anniversary at a great job, I have paid off all of my credit card debt, and I am much happier in my marriage. David is a wonderful teacher and coach who has helped change my life in beautiful ways.

Kristine Nesbitt
Austin, Texas – 2010

Hi:
I just want to let you know that David is a fantastic counselor. I have gone to counselors periodically throughout my life whenever I feel I am in a rut and need to make some changes or just to get a fresh perspective. David has been the best counselor I have ever been to. Every session with him proved to be an eye opening and profound experience for us. My relationship with my husband and the way we are able to communicate with each other has greatly improved. I have also gained new insight on myself through David. Those insights have helped me grow as a person and have also brought me more joy in my life.
David is very easy to talk with and he is professional and non judgmental. I highly recommend him.

Lynn Mitchell
Austin, Texas – 2009

David: your coaching has been instrumental in helping me get over my fear of commitment, fear of having children, and my fear of giving up my freedom. Because of your coaching, Alma and I have become closer and are now engaged! We couldn’t have made it through our challenges without you. You are a God send! We will be eternally grateful for your gift to us. May God bless you as much as you have blessed us!

Christopher & Alma
Austin, Texas – 2007

David: I just wanted to thank you for inviting us to Authentic Presence. It was truly a changing moment in my life. Now that I have had a few hours to think about my experience, it has become clear to me that besides the things I learned about myself I learned something this weekend that is truly “Life Changing”: I learned how to listen, truly listen. I never knew before how powerful it is to really listen to others and take in everything they say … not think about my response or try to impose myself into their problem …, but just to sit and listen to them.

I just had the opportunity to sit with Jim and let him tell me about his evening, his work event, and I truly listened to everything he told me. It was amazing. I realized that I have been missing out on learning about his true feelings and his true experiences because I haven’t been really listening to him this entire time. I have been hearing what he says and trying to tell him what I think … but I have never just let him talk while I just listen.

I had a fantastic time, and I learned so much from everyone there. I feel that my relationship with my husband is headed into a whole new direction … a really positive direction.
Thank you:

Loralea Knox
Austin, Texas – 2006

When we first went to see David, I felt that my relationship with my husband was, from 1 to 10 (10 being perfect), a 2. After a few visits with David I can say that my relationship with my husband is more like a 9.

If you want your husband to understand you, if you would like to argue less and you want things to be better, you have to talk to David. I think you will learn a lot in just a few visits, and your marriage and life in general will improve tremendously.

Mariza Cremona
Austin, Texas – 2006

You are so gifted. Not that many people can really reach as far down as you can. Many try but fall short of actually connecting. Thank you so much again, and I’ll be seeing you soon.

Since meeting you I have become more aware of my thoughts and I truly feel that I can have deeper conversations with other people. I am more focused on what needs to be done now and less overwhelmed with life’s daily issues. I had been stressed for months preparing to go to Iraq and was worried my relationship would fall apart. Working with you helped bring my partner and me much closer; opened communication lines; broke down selfish, prideful barriers, and consequently, enabled us to realize how precious we are to one another.

Sometimes we forget, but Cantu re-incarnated the love we have for each other through his uncanny ability to see us for who we really are. With his unique approach, he facilitated our own understanding of why we think the way we do and how to change the things about ourselves we really want to change. I wanted change; and now I feel more patient, positive, and interested in others. I definitely will continue on this new path of self-awareness and positive conscious choices.

Denise
Killeen, Texas – 2006

With your help, I realized that I felt uprooted and shocked when I moved to Florida as a child. To deal with life, I learned to check out. I focused on things like school, but I zoned out. I dealt with people by giving in to them. When I was young, I had no choice about some things; but as an adult, I had continued to feel as if I didn’t have a choice when in fact I did. Checking out all this time had become a painful addiction for me.

With my partner I had the feeling that he had pursued me and that I was just going along. After meeting you, I recently decided to be apart from him to figure out what I really wanted. When I had suggested this before, my partner convinced me otherwise, but really I just let myself be convinced. This time I made my decision, and even though he didn’t agree with it I told him not to convince me, and he listened. After that it was awkward as we talked about the separation. I felt good that I had done what I set out to do, but I felt sad that he was leaving. Soon I had an overwhelming realization. I did want him with me. I do love him. I felt like I was going crazy. How could I change my mind so fast? The truth is that the question wasn’t about me loving him but about realizing that I was in charge of my life. I asked for forgiveness and chose him out loud. In a very short time I had made a decision, carried it out and then recognized my true desire.

When I came to see you I was in search of passion. What I learned is that I’ve been living checked out, angry, blaming others for my life and playing victim …. I now know that I want to make choices and own them, to take responsibility for my life. It’s good for me to ask myself what I really want, to go after it and to take risks. I now feel at peace. I’m going in the right direction and have begun to find my passion!
Thank you for everything so far.

Zachira
Austin, Texas – 2006

Over the past month, I have learned so much. I have learned how to forgive myself for past mistakes. I am concentrating on who I am now, rather than on the person that I was back then. My boyfriend demonstrates how much he loves me and accepts me the way I am. Life coaching has brought us to a higher level of love and understanding. For that, I am so thankful. It has also opened my eyes to the fact that I have been a judgmental person. Now each time I catch myself judging someone else, I stop that thought and pray for the person. I am then filled with love for that person. I have also been able to stop the anxiety before it starts. When it does occur, I meditate.

Amber Hancock
Austin, Texas – 2005

I never thought I had a problem admitting my faults. As a teacher, that has been a real strength of mine. Almost immediately after the first few sessions, I realized that half of the problems I was having in my marriage were mine. My judgments and “way things should be” attitude were clouding my ability to communicate with my husband. Since going to the coaching sessions, it has been easier to examine myself and find the real problems in our relationship.

Through the coaching our communication with each other has improved dramatically. We didn’t have a relationship where we fought or argued, but we were getting to the point where we just didn’t talk. Our sessions have helped me to listen on a different level. We have learned to say what we really mean and to understand where the other person is coming from. This has virtually solved our problems. With this work we’ve learned how to make our marriage last!

Kim Foy
Austin, Texas – 2004