About the Founder

Managing Principal

David M. Harris, DSW, LCSW

 

Dr. Harris founded Positive By Design LLC to create a trusted network of independent clinicians, coaches, and wellness professionals committed to supporting overall well-being of the mind, body, and spirit. Positive By Design was developed to serve individuals, families, athletes, schools, and organizations throughout the St. Louis region through high-quality, relationship-centered care and consultation.

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David is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who provides brief and extended therapy for adults, couples, families, groups, and athletes across levels of competition . He has more than 20 years of experience serving clients across private practice, school, community, and organizational settings. He earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Social Work degrees from Washington University in St. Louis, a graduate certificate in Advanced Strategic Human Resource Management from Cornell University, and a Doctor of Social Work degree with a concentration in Sport Social Work from the University of Kentucky. While his practice is rooted in the St. Louis region, David currently provides services to clients across Missouri, Illinois, and Florida through a combination of in-person and telehealth care.

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Much of David’s professional career has centered on clinical practice, educational leadership, student services, equity and social justice, community engagement, and technology-based service delivery. As a therapist, his mission is to promote healing, balance, resilience, and joy in daily living. His clinical style is interactive, supportive, and respectfully challenging. He uses an integrative approach, drawing from multiple therapeutic perspectives to support clients in navigating daily life, relationships, identity, personal growth, and performance-related concerns.

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In addition to his clinical work, David specializes in performance and leadership coaching for athletes, entertainers, educators, and business executives. He has coached and consulted in football, basketball, and track and field for more than 30 years, with a focus on life-sport balance, mental agility, resilience, and performance development, and career transitions. He is a preferred provider through the NFLPA Clinician Directory and its partnership with Cigna, and he is listed on the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee Mental Health Registry.

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In addition to clinical and performance work, David speaks and consults with schools, organizations, and institutions on topics including mental health, relationships, educational equity, sport coaching, leadership, mental performance, and diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.