Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Anger management
- Depression
How Michael works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- New Jersey, New York
- Years in practice
- 20
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Michael
Michael Mcbrearty is a licensed clinical social worker who uses practical, evidence-based approaches to help people facing strong emotions. He keeps sessions direct and respectful. Michael focuses on everyday problems like stress, anger, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, and life transitions.
He draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. Mindfulness techniques are used to build calm and attention in moments of high emotion.
Background and approach
Motivational Interviewing supports people who want to change habits around substance use or other patterns. Michael has worked in the field for about 20 years. He earned a Master Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University and holds LCSW credentials in New Jersey and New York.
His background includes supporting people dealing with trauma, relationship struggles, caregiving stress, and identity-related concerns. Sessions are conversational and goal-focused. He aims to create a warm, nonjudgmental space where people can name what matters to them and try practical steps between meetings.
Work may include skill practice, brief experiments, and planning for tricky moments. People often seek him out for anger management, communication problems, addiction concerns, or coping with major change. He also helps with self-esteem, intimacy issues, career concerns, and overlapping conditions like ADHD or bipolar challenges.
What Michael works with
Everything Michael lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Michael's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Anger management
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Michael lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Therapeutic approaches adapted for online care
Michael often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thinking and practice different behaviors. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, anger, and many everyday problems because it breaks big issues into manageable steps. He also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which focuses on noticing thoughts and values and making choices that match what matters. ACT can help when someone feels stuck or overwhelmed by difficult feelings. Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Michael will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, and then adapt methods over time as needs change. Online work is practical and flexible. Video calls let people have a longer, face-to-face conversation. Phone sessions can be lower bandwidth when a video connection is difficult. Live chat and text messaging are helpful for quick check-ins, brief coaching, or keeping momentum between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving, or medical appointments.Questions people ask about Michael
What kinds of concerns does he help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, anger, depression, addictions, grief, and related issues such as relationship and communication problems.
What is his general therapy style?
Sessions are open, genuine, and nonjudgmental. He favors practical skills, mindfulness, and motivation-based conversation.
How much experience does he have?
He has about 20 years of clinical experience working in mental health and substance use settings.
What credentials and where is he based?
He holds LCSW credentials in New Jersey and New York and practices from New Jersey.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are offered?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs.
How does the cost and starting process work?
Cost varies with location and a subscription model is used that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session.