About Michael

If you are reading this page, you are most likely wondering, "who is this person and why should I trust him with my mental health?".  In this section, I hope to give you a window into my clinical style and skills, as well as show you a bit of my personal background so that you can feel comfortable with the therapeutic relationship we may form to meet your needs. If I leave anything out that you're curious about, please reach out and ask!

 

Me as a Therapist in Austin, TX

In my work with clients, my greatest commitment is to meeting my clients' goals and facilitating the development of self-knowledge and skills to fulfill those goals and enable long-term healing. I want to help you recognize and heal from longstanding wounds, better understand your concerns and strengths, and, ultimately, harness your newfound abilities and insights so that you can reduce the frequency of therapy sessions (if you choose) and autonomously solve life's problems (internal, external, emotional, relational, occupational, etc.).

​

Some of my helpful therapeutic skills include: quickly developing a safe, trusting relationship that enables openness and progress in therapy, boiling down complex problems into useful information and actionable directions for therapy, assessing and utilizing client strengths, understanding the developmental, relational, and cultural factors contributing to my clients' experiences, and accessing academic knowledge, theory, and techniques to help meet clients' goals and needs, among others. Finally, I dedicate my practice to strengthening my clients' relationships with themselves.

​

My Therapeutic Beginnings and Life Outside of Therapy

My interest in therapy began in my childhood. At a young age, I noticed--in the way that children often notice patterns because they are seeing them for the first time--that, despite their best intentions and efforts, people often found it difficult to navigate relationships, obligations, emotions, and all of the myriad complex experiences we face daily. I also noticed that I enjoyed helping people work through these experiences. Like many therapists, I later forged impactful therapeutic relationships as a client of some talented and insightful therapists, helping me to understand how my external and internal experiences inspire and influence each other. These therapists showed me the power and freedom that we have to alter our lives for the better and forge a deep connection with ourselves, our loved ones, and our world.

​

I try to foster my own freedom through creativity and connection in my own life, prizing my close relationships. regularly performing in local Austin bands, and fostering a nurturing relationship with my body through food, exercise, and spending time outdoors. I've been a musician for nearly twenty years and still take part in the Austin music scene as a member of two bands and an occasional sound engineer. Thanks for reading!