Hello. I'm Michael Richards, a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMH, same as a LPCC- the highest level of counseling license) licensed in New Mexico. I have had my license for 24 years, with 20 years experience on staff of several hospitals, providing assessment, crisis management, and general clinical mental health care. In hospitals, I also worked as a chaplain, and a social worker. I've worked as a counselor and case manager for a non-profit agency, at a private mental health hospital, and in private practice too. So I use medicine and evidence-based treatment as my main way of looking at how to do counseling. I also use client centered care, as well as psychodynamic, Jungian, and somatic techniques where appropriate. I've had a long recovery from Covid-19, and I know how many people are being impacted by this natural disaster, even traumatized or get PTSD- and I'm ready to help.
As a social worker, I was a patient advocate, also bereavement, rape crisis, and domestic violence counselor. Probably half of my work has been with people struggling with addictions, including eating disorders, and process addictions, like codependency and financial recovery.
Another big influence on my work is my training- I have a Masters in Divinity, and came into mental health counseling through hospital chaplaincy and social services- I see my work as service, and my own spiritual and healing path led me to world travels, and ecumenical and interfaith practice, and I can offer counseling on spiritual and religious issues, as well as spiritual direction.
Finally, I have an MBA in healthcare administration, and worked for 10 years as a foreign service officer and consular officer, so I am comfortable doing financial counseling, business coaching, and immigration counseling.
It is truly an honor to have you consider me for your healing team, and let's see what we can do together.
Additional areas of focus: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Codependency, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Drug and alcohol addiction, Eating and food-related issues, Family of origin issues, First responder issues, Hoarding, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Immigration issues, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Men's issues, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Money and financial issues, Post-traumatic stress
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Existential Therapy, Imago Relationship Therapy, Jungian Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
NM LPCC CCMH0190521