- Strength-based focus
- Clear practical steps
- Supportive direct style
About Michael
Michael Southerland is a licensed marriage and family therapist who focuses on men's wellbeing and related concerns. He helps people who are feeling stressed, anxious, depressed, or stuck in intimacy and relationship difficulties. He works in a direct, straightforward way and aims to make first steps feel manageable.
Michael approaches therapy believing the client is the expert in their story. He looks for strengths a person already has and builds from there. He offers a steady, supportive presence while helping people try small changes that can lead to clearer thinking and better day-to-day functioning.
In practice Michael blends several well-known approaches to meet practical needs. He draws from client-centered work to keep the conversation focused on personal goals. He uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to notice and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. He also borrows ideas from narrative and solution-focused approaches to reframe problems and set short-term goals.
Over 12 years of professional experience in California inform his approach to common concerns such as LGBT-related issues, intimacy struggles, and emotional distress. He also addresses related topics like abandonment, attachment, body image, addiction, and codependency when they come up in therapy.
Sessions move at a pace chosen by the client and therapist together. Michael aims for clear, practical conversations that help people regain balance, improve communication, and reconnect with what matters most to them.
How Michael’s approaches translate to online therapy
Michael often uses client-centered work to focus conversations on what matters most to the client, helping people feel heard and guiding them toward their own solutions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provides simple, practical tools to notice patterns in thoughts and behaviors and try specific experiments to reduce anxiety or low mood. Existential ideas may be used to help people name what feels meaningful or empty and decide what matters next.Choosing an approach is a shared process. Michael will work with each person to see which methods match their goals and preferences, and he adjusts the plan as the work proceeds. The aim is collaboration - picking approaches that feel useful and stepping back from what does not help.
The original biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm available online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when a full hour is not possible, and reduce travel time. It can also let people join from a quieter spot when they need it. Talk with the therapist about how sessions can best fit daily routines and obligations.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Michael help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and LGBT-related concerns. He also addresses related topics such as abandonment, attachment, body image, addiction, and codependency.
What is the general style of therapy?
Michael combines client-centered listening with practical, goal-focused techniques. Conversations are collaborative and often include small behavioral or thinking changes to try between sessions.
How much experience does he have?
He has 12 years of professional work experience providing therapeutic services in California.
What credentials and region apply to his practice?
He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, CA LMFT, practicing in California.
Are sessions offered in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. He is not accepting international clients at this time.
Which session formats are available?
The therapist's original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing the short matching questionnaire. Then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.