I worked with Shapiro online through BetterHelp.com a little while back and I found our whole professional relationship incredibly uncomfortable and creepy. I was in therapy to work on my fear of death as well as anxiety and depression issues. In the few months I was working with Shapiro he kept trying to bring conversations around to my sex life - even when the discussion had nothing to do with that. I called him out on it and he essentially gas lit me into believing that I wasn't trusting the therapy process and was having too strong of a reaction. I held off writing a review on him for over a year out of shame and fear. He made me feel gross and uncomfortable. I'm glad this was not in person sessions. Would not recommend him for any women. Best choice I made was parting ways with him. EDIT: I have a lot that I could say to address some of the material in Shapiro's response, but for the sake of putting this behind me, I won't. I've said my piece. read more

I had the pleasure of having Dr. Shapiro help me through a rough time dealing with anxiety/DPDR/agoraphobia. David is a great guy with vast knowledge of the mind. He truly helped me get through these issues and give me the tools I need to overcome this. David has never made me feel uncomfortable. He is very easy to talk to and has a great sense of humor. He is very opened minded as well. This review was long overdue. Sorry Doc. Thank you again for everything ! read more

Dr. Shapiro is excellent for personal therapy and coaching. 10/10 recommend. He explains things from multiple angles, in logical terms, and then equips you with practical methods and tools to tackle any challenges (including prescribing mobile apps, online videos, and books). I like how he both encourages you and challenges you to be better. I also appreciate how he simplifies root causes down to single factors, and helps avoid over-thinking and tying potentially unrelated issues and factors into the root cause. read more

Dr. Shapiro is an incredible person. He graciously agreed to be interviewed for my youtube channel. Despite the time differences, He set up 2 hours before the actual interview to discuss my goals and craft questions with me so the viewers and I could get the most relatable and helpful information from his expertise. During the 2 hour session, he also provided me valuable psychology tools to overcome my fear and helped me heal my childhood trauma because he recognized that there were mental blockages in my path and wanted me to achieve my goal. His methods were effective, and the results were impactful. He is patient, kind, and knowledgeable. He shared his expertise in psychology throughout our interactions and brainstormed potential business growing ideas with me. Furthermore, he was so kind to suggest and connect me with others so we could all succeed. Thank you, Dr. Shapiro, for your incredible generosity in sharing your knowledge, expertise, ideas, and time. Thank you for waking up early and staying up late so you can help others. You are truly an amazing person! read more

David Shapiro is trustworthy, kind, and can help you discover your own path to a balanced life. He has the right blend of Western and Eastern thought that I appreciate. I highly recommend him! read more

Dr Shapiro recently started practicing in Singapore, working with the company https://www.bodywithsoul.com/ It has been an absolute pleasure to receive his guidance over the past few months, dealing with past trauma, present hang-ups, and future anxieties. He is an excellent listener and gives relatable, concrete advice which can be easily implemented. I was pleasantly surprised how fast my life and world view had improved after listening to Dr Shapiro, and I cannot recommend him highly enough. read more

Dr. Shapiro has been a life saver for me. I have had panic disorder for so long and tried everything. I got to the point where I didn't think there was anyone or anything that could fix it. David Shapiro changed that. I'm doing things I couldn't do for so long now and am continuing to get better. I cannot thank you enough. I also really appreciate how valuable each session is and he doesn't drag out sessions to keep you on as a patient. He genuinely cares about helping you get better. read more

Dr. Shapiro creates a safe environment where you can lean into anxious and fearful thoughts with curiosity. He provides practical exercises to help you manage painful thoughts. With time you will have several tools for inner peace that Dr. Shapiro has helped you learn. With family, community and career responsibilities, these tools will save time and energy and in doing so improve your relationship with yourself to better serve these areas. read more

I began seeing David a few months ago to deal with some addiction and depression issues. David is a trustworthy and non-judgmental person to share with. He is attentive and insightful and has done a good job structuring his suggestions based on my personality and beliefs. He has provided extremely valuable feedback that has helped in my recovery. Not only has David been effective while on the clock in therapy sessions, he has also made himself available outside of the office for phone calls or helpful text messages. This, along with his compassion and wisdom make him a great person to have in your corner. I recommend him wholeheartedly. read more

I am a family law attorney in Newport Beach, and Dr. Shapiro's services have been invaluable for many of my clients. My clients typically have significant estates and income, which makes them both sophisticated and discerning. These clients include executive level business men and women, high profile doctors, and attorneys. Dr. Shapiro has always come through, helping many of these clients navigate the emotional complexities surrounding the demise of their marriage, and the divorce process. I regularly hand Dr. Shapiro's card out to my clients, urging them to contact him. I regularly receive thank you emails, and phone calls from clients who feel that he has helped them not only heal, but also transform toward meeting their own personal potentials. Dr. Shapiro is not only extremely well qualified (Masters from Columbia, Ph.D. from UT Austin), he also provides the the level of customer service that my clients expect. I am so happy to have met Dr. Shapiro, and would urge anyone considering therapy to meet with him. You won't be disappointing. read more

I am so so grateful to work with Dr. Shapiro. In a few sessions he took me from a place of feeling like my work was too overwhelming and stressful to a place where work was manageable and sometimes even fun. He is an astute observer, an excellent listener and gives you space to process new thoughts and ideas. He creates a calm and open environment where you feel accepted, validated and safe to share openly. He gets to the point and takes your concerns and goals seriously. He also has great sense of humor. Could not recommend him enough. Excellent experience. read more

David Shapiro assisted in me getting my life back to how it was when I was a thriving 22 year old professional athlete. When I first went to David my confidence was destroyed after going through a very difficult ruff patch in my life. I had lost everything personally professionally and spiritually I was not in alignment with my norm. Within the next 3 months I was golden. I was thriving again. He helped direct me to my true passion again and from that I have started a business that is on track to becoming a million $ a year business. Thank you David. Cheers my friend. Chris Long read more

Dr. Shapiro is an incredible Psychologist and person. His blend of Eastern and Western methods is what drew me to him but his warm way of connecting is what made me stay (I had previously written off therapy after some disappointing experiences with others). It's hard to put into words how grateful I am but here are a few things I appreciate most. He has given me tools to help me combat my anxiety that actually work, he has a way of helping me find new perspective that better serves my overall health and well being, and he considers it an honor to do this work and it shows. Dr. Shapiro actually remembers details about our prior conversations and will take the time to consider how they tie into current situations which helps me better understand the "why". Talking to him feels like talking to a professional but even more like talking to a friend. He's also really funny. I could go on and on. I hope everyone who needs this type of support finds a Dr. Shapiro, the world would be a much better place. I am so grateful for him! read more

I have no idea how my previous review ended up on this web site. In all honesty, I never wrote a review for Dr. Shapiro. Oddly, I did see the doctor on two occasions many years back and didn't feel that he was very affective. Again, the previous review, apparently written by me was not my doing. Has my account somehow been compromised? If I was to review Shapiro's services, I can only say, that he seemed like a nice enough guy, but his solution for me was to spend time in his office working with a computer program that dealt with stress management. The program was produced by a New Age Organization and I remember Deepak Chopra had lent his voice to the application. There was a sensor attached to my index finger and at one point I was asked to levitate a stack of digitized boulders that appeared on the computer screen. I couldn't seem to lift them no matter how hard I tried to concentrate, which was very frustrating, causing me further stress. It was as if I was a Jedi Knight in training and asked to use an imaginary telekinetic FORCE to elevate the rocks. This was Dr. Shairo's idea of therapy during our second session. I thought I was there for him to listen to my problems and offer solutions, but instead he had me play a computer game. Just wasn't my cup of tea as I'm really not into the New Age thing and feel that it's just a scam. read more

I have been a long-term spiritual student of Dr. Shapiro, and this review is true and real about him. I first met Dr. Shapiro was 7 years ago, when I was looking for a psychologist in Orange County. David's website caught my eyes because he was a psychologist who also practices Buddhism. My first impression about him was calm and warm. Ever since then, he became my spiritual teacher. At the beginning, I thought the combination of psychology and Buddism was rare and novel, because I did not know the connections in between (even though I was born in China and should have been familiar with Buddhism, I thought.) But over the years, Dr. Shapiro just opened my spiritual eyes, which guided and mentored me through many important yet difficult times in my life. When I asked him why he combines Buddhism into his practice, he often says, "A car, no matter how good the engine it has, without a good driver driving it towards the right direction, it just can not arrive at the right place." He has been coaching me to become a good driver (a clear mind) to my car (our body and flesh) through the years. Last year, to advance my education, I quit my job and moved to San Diego for my law school education. Because of the environment and lifestyle changes, and the tremendous stress in law school, I had a very difficult time adjusting myself to those changes and mental pressure. Dr. Shapiro took me to a monastery near San Diego, and we did meditation together, which calmed down my mind when we meditated in a soothing and calming Buddhist temple. I think because he cultivates his heart towards Buddhist teachings for so many years, he carries a calm and positive energy that you will immediately sense when you talk to him. I think in English, we can call it aura. He carries that aura of peace and positivity. I define myself as Dr. Shapiro's spiritual student, and he says, "We are all students, and we are all teachers." In closing, I want to write 3 things that I feel thankful in life, which is a skill that I learned from Dr. Shapiro: 1. I am thankful that I have a spiritual mentor who gives me wise guidance when I feel lost. 2. I am thankful that life is not easy for everyone so that we can grow and become stronger. 3. I am thankful that I can make good decisions when I have a clearer mind. I look forward to more teachings from Mr. Shapiro. read more

This review is one I have been meaning to write for quite some time. I saw Dr Shapiro at the beginning of my divorce. I was dealing with a lot of anxiety over it and needed some guidance and a safe place to discuss what I was going through. My husband at the time was in a cycle of abuse with me. Dr Shapiro was an angel to me. He taught me so many wonderful tools that to this day (2 years later), I still use. I moved to San Diego and have not been in to see him for 2 years. He is an amazing help. He is still the voice in my head telling me I can do this when the tough times happen. Thank you Dr Shapiro. read more

So I found myself searching yelp for a local psychologist to help me work through some family issues I was having. I noticed David had many great reviews so I decided to give him a call. I noticed the phone was not connecting when I called so I tried back a little later. David answered the phone and explained he was now living in Thailand and no longer in California. However he took the time to talk to me more about what I was dealing with. He recommended a book for me to read that would help me better understand and possibly identify with. He followed up with a few text messages and ended up referring me to someone local who specialized in these types of relationship/family codependency issues. He also mentioned he was looking into possibly setting up something online where he could connect with people and continue to help them. Anyway, I was very grateful he took the time to point me in the right direction. You can tell he is a very spiritual person who truly cares about others and takes the time help. read more

In May 15, I made the decision to "discontinue my education" and leave college. For numerous reasons, I was struggling academically but most importantly mentally. By last May, depression and anxiety had become part of my routine. Some weeks better than others, I kept trying to push through by taking beta blockers and anxiety pills. When I finally realized I was severely depressed, I thought it was too late. Flying to California, where my parents had moved while I was in college, I couldn't help but expect that this was the start of my new life as a LOSER... This might still have been my personal image today, if I wasn't recommended Dr. Shapiro. Although I was extremely pessimistic about talking to someone, Dr. Shapiro changed my views immediately. From the moment I walked into his office, I got the vibe that he was someone that I could trust. In just about 3 in months of meeting, my life is turning in a positive direction. Dr. Shapiro helped me realize that I was studying my previous major for all the wrong reasons. He helped me realized what my true strengths are, and guided my choice in what direction to go. Now in school again, ( 93% average 1st semester back) I actually passionate about what I'm learned for maybe the first time ever! Once again I cannot exaggerate how different I would feel, act, and think if I had never crossed paths with Dr. Shapiro. read more

Dr. Shapiro assessed my son and spoke with my son's school at length over a very sensitive matter for them. I found him to be very flexible and among the most responsive in the south OC area. He has an informative website that is educational, and after speaking with him, I learned that he has very good credentials. He is a licensed clinical psychologist that takes insurance but doesn't prioritize the money at all. He is well fit for adolescent boys (i.e., informal, warm, accepting, and not at all judgmental) and has a large social network of diverse professionals in this area. He is very excited about his mind-body treatments and has been relatively successful in promoting his center and himself. I would highly recommend Dr. Shapiro for anyone seeking a counselor that is low key, low maintenance, and informal/relaxed about his work. read more

I connected with Dr. Shapiro immediately. He's been amazing. He's helping me get well both emotionally and physically and uncovered things within a couple sessions that doctors had missed for years. I really felt like he's tailoring his treatment for me versus a one size fits all approach. I can't recommend Dr. Shapiro highly enough! read more

Fantastic coaching style. He makes it easy to talk because of his extraordinary listening skills and sense of empathy.

Dr. Shapiro and I connected right out of the gate. I thoroughly appreciated his comfortable and relax manner. His advice, comments, suggestions were all spot on and I saw immediate improvements in my situation later the day of my visit. I most certainly recommend Dr. Shapiro to any and all. read more

To save anyone who is not looking to pay out of pocket some time, don't bother calling as you will hear this when you speak with David Shapiro "You will, unless you pay OOP more than the $60 per session your insurance provides, have a choice of the worst providers out there. I hate to tell you that." read more

My Son had an anxiety and nightmares and couldn't sleep alone in his room. I was very worried and finally decided to get help from a professional.Dr. David Shapiro is amazing we saw him twice so far and my son is doing great already. He is very professional and kind. His recommendations were great. Highly recommend him. Thank you Dr. Shapiro for helping hem. read more

I went to David for some help with some professional anxiety issues that had crept up over the recent past. This is the first time I had ever been to a professional Psychologist and was thoroughly grateful that I had found David. Dr. Shapiro was extremely easy to talk to and helped me almost immediately. His first thought was that this was very easy to work through and it would only take a couple of visits. I was surprised as my skepticism had me thinking that most Doctors would attempt to stretch this out for some time. In just a few visits and some exercises for me to work on, I feel that I am in total control of the situation and put this behind me. David worked with me more as a professional coach that he did as a doctor. I am extremely grateful for his guidance and counseling in this very short time. I highly recommend David for any issues that one may have as he is very professional, courteous and helpful. It was as if I was talking to a long time friend and his only concern was to help me! I highly recommend Dr. Shapiro for anything that someone has issues with as minor as they maybe. You will not be disappointed!! read more

I have used David 2 times in the past and he has by far exceeded my expectations. He has great knowledge and knows the system. He is straight forward and honest and somebody you can trust without doubt. I would recommend him to friends, family, and anybody that needs help. Best attorney I've ever come across. read more

I like this therapist very much. I felt better after the first visit. I started feeling significantly better after the third visit. He's very smart, personalbe and wise. I had anxiety, depression, panick attacks. I worked with my previous therapist, but at the end I was not satisfied by her. I also took pills, but I am tapering off now. I wanted some help and support in order to learn to control my anxiety without pills. Dr. Shapiro is excellent and I already feel "cured" but I will keep seeing him for a couple of more weeks perhaps. read more