Works with
How Michael works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- Illinois
- Years in practice
- 5
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Michael
Michael Peterson is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anger, anxiety, addiction, grief, and depression. He uses a straightforward style to help people talk through what feels overwhelming and find practical ways to cope. Michael brings a calm, nonjudgmental approach to conversations about difficult topics.
He has professional experience in several social work roles, including case work and crisis response. That background shaped a practical way of working with everyday problems and urgent concerns alike.
Background and approach
Michael draws on five years of therapy experience as an Illinois LCSW. In sessions he focuses on listening first, then building simple steps clients can try between meetings. He often uses cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thinking, and mindfulness strategies to reduce reactivity.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy ideas also show up when people want to clarify values and move toward meaningful action. Michael also uses client-centered and motivational interviewing approaches to keep the work collaborative. He aims to make sessions feel like a conversation rather than a lecture.
That style helps people stay engaged and try new behaviors outside of sessions. People who bring concerns about relationships, parenting, bipolar mood shifts, ADHD, or caregiver stress will find a clinician who listens and helps create manageable plans. Michael emphasizes small, concrete changes that add up over time.
He supports each person in setting goals that make sense for their life.
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
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Depression
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- 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.
Evidence-informed approaches delivered online
Michael commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in his work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take committed steps toward those values, which can be useful for anger, anxiety, and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down cycles of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so people can test new ways of thinking and reacting to stress.He also incorporates client-centered listening and motivational interviewing techniques to make the process collaborative. Together the therapist and client decide which methods to emphasize based on goals and what feels most useful. That shared decision-making helps tailor the plan to each person’s needs and preferences.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit varying schedules and needs. Video calls allow fuller conversation and visual cues, while phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging are useful for brief check-ins, step-by-step coaching, or when a written thread helps track progress. These options aim to make therapy more flexible and easier to fit into a busy life.
Questions people ask about Michael
What kinds of concerns does Michael help with?
He supports people experiencing stress, anxiety, anger, addiction, trauma, grief, depression, relationship and parenting struggles, ADHD, and related issues.
How would you describe his therapy style?
Sessions are conversational and client-centered, with a focus on listening first and building practical steps to try between meetings.
What is his professional background?
Michael has held roles such as case worker and crisis clinician, and brings five years of therapy experience to his practice.
What credentials and location are listed?
He is an LCSW licensed in Illinois.
Does he offer sessions in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and he is not accepting international clients.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How are costs and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.