Dr. Dave Ralston is a Christian counselor, author, and educator dedicated to helping people gain deeper insight into themselves and build stronger, healthier relationships. He holds a PhD in Christian Counseling and is an Advanced Licensed Christian Counselor and Certified Temperament Counselor through the National Christian Counselors Association.

Before entering the counseling field, Dr. Dave built a Hall of Fame career as an athletic trainer, most notably for his work with the University of Michigan’s legendary “Fab Five” during one of the most iconic eras in college basketball history. That experience shaped his ability to understand people under pressure, navigate complex personalities, and help individuals perform at their best—skills that continue to influence his work today.

Over the course of his counseling career, Dr. Dave has worked with individuals, couples, and families facing complex emotional and relational challenges. Through thousands of counseling sessions, he has helped people navigate emotional disconnection, identity struggles, relational conflict, and long-standing patterns of unhealthy communication through a biblical, Christ-centered worldview.

Dr. Dave is the founder of Life Training Christian Counseling, where he serves clients across the United States and internationally. His approach integrates practical insight with biblical truth, offering guidance that is both grounded and accessible. He is especially known for helping people make sense of complex relational dynamics—particularly in marriages marked by emotional immaturity, abuse, or brokenness.

He is also the founder of Life Reframe, an online learning community designed to help people continue growing beyond initial insight. Through Life Reframe, he equips individuals with deeper teaching, practical tools, and ongoing support as they continue growing in identity, communication, and relational health in everyday life.

In addition to his counseling work, Dr. Dave is a widely followed teacher and content creator. Through daily social media content, live teaching sessions, and online resources, he has reached hundreds of thousands of people seeking clarity, direction, and hope.

He is the creator of The 5 Life Languages®, a framework designed to help people recognize how they naturally communicate, what they need in relationships, and why others respond so differently. It provides a clear and practical way to make sense of identity, reduce relational confusion, and build more effective communication across every area of life.

Dr. Dave is also the award-winning author of Addition by Subtraction: God Turns Our Broken Pieces into Masterpieces, a book that explores how God uses loss and brokenness to shape identity and purpose.

His passion for this work is rooted in a simple conviction: when people finally see themselves and others clearly, everything begins to change.

He has spoken at marriage retreats, conferences, and church events, often alongside his wife, and has served in pastoral roles, bringing both theological depth and practical application to his teaching and serving.

Dr. Dave and his wife Ann live in western Kentucky and have four children, ten grandchildren, and two precious dogs. His mission has remained the same: to help people move from struggling to peace, from confusion to clarity, and from brokenness to wholeness in Jesus Christ.