Dr. David Drobes , FL Psychologist PY11312

Dr. David Drobes is a Florida licensed psychologist with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Purdue University and three decades of experience in research and clinical work. He has combined leadership roles in prominent academic and research settings - including positions at the University of Florida, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the Moffitt Cancer Center - with hands-on psychotherapy practice to address a wide range of mental health and addiction concerns.

Newly retired from academia, he has provided psychotherapy to a limited number of individual clients, drawing on extensive experience treating stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and substance-related problems. His additional focus areas include drug and alcohol addiction, mood disorders, panic disorder and panic attacks, phobias, post-traumatic stress, smoking and vaping cessation, and social anxiety and phobia.

His clinical approach is oriented toward short-term cognitive-behavioral therapy - a structured method that helps people identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns - while integrating other evidence-based techniques such as Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness practices, and supportive counseling. He emphasizes tailoring interventions to each person’s needs so therapy fits individual goals and circumstances.

Dr. Drobes aims to establish an open, nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship that supports emotional expression and practical progress. He frames the work as collaborative, helping clients take steps toward greater life satisfaction and improved relationships. He holds the professional credential FL Psychologist PY11312, which denotes licensure as a psychologist in Florida.

Therapeutic approaches and flexible online care

Dr. Drobes uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing as core tools in his work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a practical, goal-oriented approach that helps people identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and replace them with more effective patterns; it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, panic, and phobias. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, person-centered method that helps increase motivation to change, making it well suited for substance use issues, smoking and vaping cessation, and other behavior change goals.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Dr. Drobes frames treatment as a collaborative effort and will work with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress is made.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility for people balancing work, family, and other commitments. Video calls and phone sessions allow for real-time conversation and clinical work, while live chat and text-based messaging can support more frequent check-ins and brief coaching between sessions. These options increase accessibility and make it easier to maintain continuity of care with licensed professionals and therapists regardless of scheduling constraints.