Michael is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC-S) in the state of Ohio, a Certified Dialectical Behavior Therapist (DBTC), and a Certified Professional Life Coach. Michael obtained his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Bowling Green State University (BGSU), his DBT certification from the Evergreen Certifications Institute, and his 140 hour nationally approved life coaching certificate from Lark’s Song in Marion, Indiana. He has worked and served in the mental health field for the past ten years and has experience working with at-risk youth transitioning to adulthood, severe and pervasive mental illness (SPMI) populations, dual-diagnosis populations (mental health and co-morbid substance use disorders), emotion regulation and grief, LGBTQI+ populations, and facilitating creative expressive group programming in mental health inpatient settings.

Michael practices from an informed Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) approach integrated with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to meet the needs of individuals and couples to treat anxiety related disorders, mood related and emotion regulation disorders (depression and bipolar), grief and bereavement, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), relationship communication and satisfaction, career concerns and loss, family adjustment as well as sexual identity and spiritual concerns.

Michael maintains an active role in the professional counseling field and promotes advocacy for counselors and clients alike. He has presented at national, state, church, and local conferences on a number of topics including emotion regulation and mood disorders, affirmative therapy and pedagogy practices for LGBTQI+ populations, and wellness. He has held executive roles in professional organizations concerned with ethical integration of spiritual and religious values in counseling, providing safe and competent resources for LGBTQI+ populations, and promoting education on eliminating human trafficking across the state of Ohio.