I am licensed as an LICSW and have worked for over three decades in private practice and also in the public sector. I'm experienced in GLBTQ+-related issues; couples counseling and relationship issues; grief and loss issues; EAP issues; intimacy issues; abuse, trauma and gaslighting. I can help you work through the effects of unfinished business from the past and a range of other issues, including some of the more existential issues of this moment.
My preferred approach is existential and psychodynamic (feelings, instincts and unconscious processes) rather than an approach that defaults to dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) or cognitive/behavioral therapy.
I'm spiritual but not religious. Although much of the therapy I do is short term, I'm also available for long term therapy.
So what exactly do I do?
To a large extent, my therapeutic point of departure relies on the notion that "truth begets truth." I'm not just talking about intellectual truth but emotional authenticity as well, both as it relates to the client and also to the therapist.
In that regard, I make liberal use of what is called the "empty chair technique," which is a Gestalt therapy approach that was developed in the 60's and perfected in the 70's. Long story short, it can help us to become much more flexible in our attachments to whatever it is that we're identified with.
That, in turn, can help us let go of the more dysfunctional attachments/identifications while becoming ever more plastic/fluid in connecting with other parts of ourselves, leading to a greater sense of peace and wholeness.
The end result can lead to an increased ability to reconnect with the world without an excessive amount of repression, self-judgment and noise that could otherwise get in the way of spontaneity, creativity and emotional authenticity.
The empty chair technique is a very powerful therapeutic tool, a tool that can also be used for dreamwork, along with another tool that the Jungians call active imagination.
In that regard, however, I believe it should be client centered, not therapist centered. If it's working, it is you who will be making the important connections, not your therapist, no matter what orientation they may have.
I call myself a psychodynamically-oriented therapist not because I believe that the unconscious exists in the same way that gravity or the moon exist, although there are certain parallels, but because if one approaches the realm of the unconscious (personal/collective/transpersonal) as a kind of thought experiment, it can lead to some very powerful insights that might otherwise fly under the radar.
In our highly technocratic and materialistic culture, that can be a challenge but IMO, it's a challenge well-worth taking on.
You should know that while I don't send out a lot of Better Help worksheets and the like, I will frequently point my clients to links, articles, books, poetry and research which are relevant to our work together and/or in which we have an interest.
Finally, please know that I have a strong aversion to treating clients like self-contained widgets who exist strictly in their heads while compartmentalizing-off the socioeconomic situation that may be contributing to their depression, alienation and angst.
If you're struggling with survival issues, however, I believe that grounding is essential, not a lot of speculation on the stars. Our therapeutic goals, therefore, will be shaped by that as well.
While I'm eclectic in my approach, please know that there are no rabbits I can pull out of a hat. No therapist can. I can, however, try to better understand your weaknesses and leverage your strengths, as I said above.
Taking that first step to seeking a more fulfilling and happier life takes courage. You took that step in signing up with Better Help. I am here to help support you in that process.
Additional areas of focus: BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture, Codependency, Communication problems, Expats, Family problems, Gender dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Multicultural concerns, Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships, Sexuality, Workplace issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Existential Therapy, Hypnotherapy, Jungian Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems
WA LICSW LW 00004169
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Michael Green. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
As someone for whom English is not the first language, I was worried about being fully understood in therapy. But Michael has always made sure I feel comfortable and understood, even when language is a challenge. Michael has been incredibly supportive and attentive, and I’m grateful for his patience and care.
Written on Aug 24, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, and self esteem
Great to work with! Appreciate that he understands my view point as an artist.
Written on Aug 18, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and adhd