Dr. Michael Berler, Psychologist

About me

I am a psychologist and have been licensed for 40 years. I had a solo private practice delivering psychological services to children, adolescents and adults since 1983. I made the decision to close my private practice on 01/31/2022. It was a hard decision but do to a variety of considerations; I saw it as an off ramp from the world of private practice. I've been doing tele-therapy for over a two years; and have really enjoyed the experience. Tel-therapy is the past, present and future delivery system of psychological services for all populations. Although there are differences between in-person versus tele-therapy, in my opinion; these differences are insignificant; and in my experiences have no impact on effectiveness.
My approach to the process of individual therapy is a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; which in English means we examine the relationship between ones thoughts, feelings and behavior choices from the perspective of an individuals past and present experiences through out childhood, adolescence and adulthood and the Bio-Psycbo-Social paradigm of therapy. Which translates to using medication management when it is deemed medically necessary by a physician; combined with individual and couples therapy that addresses issues of self and attacments to others both in and outside of the individuals family. Therapy is a marathon not a sprint. It's a guided tour of healthy change. Change for everybody is difficult at any developmental phase of life. Having been in therapy for many decades I can say : "It wasn't easy but so very rewarding."
At the end of the day "people do what they want to do." Therapy examines an individual's pattern of choices and their consequences in a confidential and judgement free environment. Then through therapy new and healthier skill sets are learned to help navigate ones personal and professional lives for the goal of making healthier patterns of choices that enhances how one feels about themselves and their significant attachments to others.

Professional experience

Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Attachment issues, Blended family issues, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Divorce and separation, Eating and food-related issues, Forgiveness, Gender dysphoria, HIV / AIDS, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Phobias, Postpartum depression, Prejudice and discrimination, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Sex addiction, Sexual assault and abuse, Social anxiety and phobia, Trichotillomania, Women's issues, Young adult issues

Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems

License information

TX Psychologist 22592