Thank you for visiting Martin Davenport's Biography Page

Licensed Professional Counselor with graduate degrees from the Counselor Education Program at Virginia Commonwealth University (M.Ed.) and the Education Specialist Program in counseling at the University of Virginia (Ed.S.) with years of counseling experience in various fields.

RELEVANT SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Solution Focused Therapy

• Hypnotherapy

• Individual Adult Counseling

• Couples Counseling

• Marriage Counseling

• Pre-marital Counseling

• Divorce Counseling

• Sudden Wealth Syndrome Counseling

• Substance Abuse Counseling

• Presentation Skills

• Mediation Training

• Eye Movement Integration

• Supervision for Licensure, LPC, LMFT

• Sports Hypnosis

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

• 1996-Present Licensed Professional Counselor , Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist - Martin Davenport, P.C., d.b.a. Acumen Counseling Services - A private practice in counseling. Working with individuals, couples and families in individual and group counseling in an outpatient setting.

• 1992 - 1997 Clinician - Hanover Mental Health - Substance Abuse Counselor - Work with individuals, couples and families in individual and group counseling sessions to deal with substance abuse issues, life issues, and couples and family issues in an outpatient as well as a jail setting.

• 1991-1994 Intern - Family Institute of Virginia - Adult and Family Counselor - Worked in counseling individuals and their families in an inpatient setting.

• 1992 Volunteer - Thomas Hospice Program, Retreat Hospital - Assisted with terminally ill patients in a hospital hospice program.

• 1979-1991 Unrelated jobs in the financial field.

EDUCATION

1992 -1993 Ed. S. - University of Virginia.

1992 - Ct. H, - American Hypnosis Training Academy

1990 -1992  M. Ed. - Virginia Commonwealth University.

1975 -1979 B.A. Psychology - University of Richmond

CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS ATTENDED

• Putting "Marriage" Back into Marriage Therapy - Michele Werner-Davis

• Family Therapy Networker Symposium - Various seminars - Sponsor - Family Therapy Networker

• Hypnosis and Pain Management - Presenter: Michael Yapko - Sponsor: Institute for Behavioral Healthcare

• Breaking the Patterns of Depression - Presenter: Michael Yapko - Sponsor: Institute for Behavioral Healthcare

• Training Trainers - By invitation only weekend seminar given by Bill O'Hanlon at his home - Sponsor - Bill O'Hanlon, co-founder of Solution Focused Therapy

• Virginia Counselor's Association Convention - Various seminars  - Sponsor - Virginia Counselors Association

• Domestic Violence Video Conference - Sponsor - YWCA

• Eye Movement Integration Training - Sponsor - American Hypnosis Training Academy, Inc. - Certified Practitioner of EMI

• Short-Term Therapy for the Long-Term Patient - Sponsor - Institute for Behavioral Healthcare - Presenter - Arthur Freeman, Ed. D.

• Legal Aspects of Counseling - Sponsor - American Counseling Association

• From Problem to Solution: The Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Approach - Sponsor - Hanover Community Services - Presenter - Scott D. Miller, Ph.D.

• DSM-IV Update - Sponsor - Virginia Counselors Association - Presenter - Linda Seligman, Ph.D., LPC.

• Working with Alcoholic Families - Sponsor - Brandermill Family Center - Presenter - Michael Elkin, M.A.

• Suicide Prevention and Postvention  - Sponsor - American Association of Suicidology - Presenters - various

• Rewriting Love Stories: Brief Marital Therapy - Sponsor - Virginia AMFT - Presenters - Pat O. Hudson, Ph.D., Bill O'Hanlon, M.S.

• Hypnosis Training - Sponsor - American Hypnosis Training Academy, Inc. - Certified Practitioner of Hypnosis

• Divorce Prevention and Marriage Protection - Sponsor - Health Ed

• Certified Sports Hypnotist - National Endurance & Sports Trainers Association

CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS MARTIN DAVENPORT HAS PRESENTED

• Eye Movement Integration Training for Hanover Community Services - Hanover, Virginia

• Solution Focused Therapy for School Settings for the Spotsylvania County School System - Fredericksburg, Virginia

• Solution Focused Therapy - Beyond the Miracle Question - Virginia Counselor's Association Convention

MEMBERSHIPS

National Guild of Hypnotist, American Counseling Association, American Mental Health Counselors Association, Association for Adult Development and Aging, International Association of Marriage and Family Counseling, Virginia Counselors Association, Virginia Association of Clinical Counselors, Richmond Area Counselors Association, Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society, Richmond Association of Clinical Counselors, Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce.

1997-1998 - vice-president, Richmond Association of Clinical Counselors

Ever since high school people have poured out their problems to Marin Davenport.  However, it wasn't until his mid-thirties that Davenport decided to make a career out of counseling.

"I realized that I wasn't doing what I really wanted to do in my career as a stockbroker," he recalls.  "So, I went to graduate school to become a counselor.  The further I progressed, the more I realized that this is what I love to do."

Today, this "change agent" strives to make a difference in people's lives through his private practice, Acumen Counseling Services.  Tapping his creativity and a variety of techniques such as  Solution Focused Therapy and hypnotherapy, Davenport guides individuals and couples through a variety of challenging life situations.  He also gives talks on his solution-focused approach and is developing a workshop to present to business people.

"A counseling service can be more that just a place for people to come who are having problems," Davenport explains.  "Counselors can help those who feel stuck in a certain situation.  [For example] I have worked with people about to take the license exam or give a presentation and helped them use the anxiety they feel to their advantage."

While a therapist or psychologist may treat mental illness, Davenport sees his job in broader terms.  He believes counselors help people gain insights into themselves that can take them to where they want to be in life.

"People generally leave my office with something new and useful about themselves," Davenport says.  "They can use this information, way of thinking or skill to make a success for themselves in whatever arena they wish."

Davenport has seen steady growth in Acumen Counseling Services since it opened in January 1996 on North Parham Road near Patterson Avenue.  He hopes to continue getting the message out about what he can do for people.

"The most rewarding aspect of this growth comes from those who come to me through word of mouth," he says.  "It shows me that I was helpful to someone and (s)he felt that I could be of benefit to someone else.  Their success is my success."

1/6/2007