- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship challenges
- Client-centered approach
About Michael
Michael Southerland is a California LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) with 12 years of clinical experience. He works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, intimacy-related issues, and LGBT-related matters. He frames clients as the experts on their own lives and supports people as they decide what to try next.
Michael focuses on clear, practical conversation. Sessions tend to name what feels stuck, sort through what matters most, and test small changes to see what helps. He draws on talk-based approaches to make these steps concrete and usable between sessions.
His background includes long-term work with people dealing with abandonment, attachment issues, and codependency. He has also supported those navigating adoption and foster care histories, aging-related concerns, autism or Asperger syndrome, and body image or eating-related struggles. These areas often show up alongside stress, anxiety, and relationship strain.
In sessions Michael uses methods from Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Existential Therapy. He tends to blend these to fit the concern at hand, helping people try specific practices while also revisiting personal meaning and values.
People who choose him often want practical tools as well as room to talk through identity and relationship questions. He asks straightforward questions, listens for patterns, and works with clients to plan small experiments outside of sessions. The aim is steady progress rather than quick fixes.
Therapeutic approaches and online sessions
Michael often draws on Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy during online work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters to the person, helping them clarify goals and values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at thoughts and behaviors, offering practical techniques for managing anxiety, mood, and relationship patterns.Finding the right approach is part of the work. He will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and how they respond to different methods. Together they decide which techniques to try and how to adapt them over time in a collaborative way.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people practice skills in the settings where challenges happen and bring those experiences back to discuss and refine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he work with?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and LGBT-related concerns. Additional focuses include attachment, abandonment, body image, addiction, and related areas.
How does he approach feeling stuck?
He uses conversational, practical methods that identify patterns and test small changes. Sessions combine talk with specific steps to try between meetings.
What is his clinical background?
He has 12 years of professional experience working in clinical settings. That experience includes work with adoption and foster care histories, aging issues, and autism or Asperger syndrome.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is a California LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) and practices in California.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with him?
He is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing is provided during the sign-up process.
How do I begin working with him?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session. That starts the intake and initial planning process.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.