Michael Whiteside
You may be the person everyone counts on. You're capable, driven, and accustomed to finding a way forward—even when the pressure is high. But sometimes, the same drive that helps you succeed at work and show up for others can leave you feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, anxious, or unsure how to make room for yourself. I'm Dr. Michael Whiteside II, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works with adults navigating anxiety, stress, relationship challenges, and patterns that make it difficult to slow down or feel fulfilled. I help clients better understand themselves, explore how past experiences influence present choices, and develop practical ways to move forward.
Therapy for the People Others Depend On: You spend so much time showing up for everyone else. You deserve a space where someone helps you show up for yourself.
My approach is thoughtful, collaborative, and grounded in the belief that you can be successful and still need support. Therapy with me is a space to think deeply, speak honestly, and even laugh along the way. We'll work together to understand what's keeping you stuck, strengthen your relationships, and build a healthier relationship with yourself and the life you're working so hard to create. You don't have to wait until everything falls apart to invest in your well-being. You deserve the same care and intentionality you give to everyone and everything else.
First session
In our first session, my priority is to help you feel comfortable, heard, and understood. You can share as much or as little as you feel ready to share; you don't have to have everything figured out before we begin. Together, we'll explore the challenges you're facing, how they're affecting your life, and what you hope to change. We'll begin identifying approaches that may support your needs, establish goals for our work together, and discuss how we'll recognize and celebrate your progress along the way. My goal is for you to leave our first session with greater clarity about what you're experiencing, a sense of direction for our work, and the reassurance that you don't have to navigate everything alone. All I ask is that you show up as you are. We can figure out the next steps together. You don't have to have all the answers to begin making meaningful changes.
Strengths
My approach is built on a simple principle: making the complex easier to understand. Life's challenges rarely exist in isolation. Relationships, motivation, cultural experiences, personal expectations, frustrations, and conflict patterns can all influence how we experience the world and respond to its challenges. Together, we'll explore these connections and identify the "mechanics" behind what's happening in your life. By understanding how your patterns work, you'll gain a clearer picture of what's keeping you stuck and develop practical ways to respond differently. My goal is to help you reconnect with yourself, redefine how you understand your circumstances, and reclaim your ability to make intentional choices. Our work combines self-awareness with practical strategies, creating space for meaningful change in your mindset, relationships, and everyday life. Therapy isn't about simply accepting the life you have or being told what to do. It's a collaborative process that encourages you to understand yourself more deeply, recognize your strengths, and build a life that reflects what matters to you. Together, we'll work toward growth that extends beyond the session and supports lasting change.
Ideal clients
Therapy for the person everyone depends on. You spend so much time showing up for your career, your relationships, and the people who count on you. But who helps you make sense of what you're carrying? I work with high-achieving adults navigating anxiety, chronic stress, relationship challenges, and deeply rooted patterns that make it difficult to feel fulfilled. Together, we explore the mechanics behind those patterns, strengthen your relationship with yourself and others, and develop practical ways to move forward. Because success should not require losing yourself in the process.
Treatment methods
Psychodynamic
I work with clients to explore the deeper meaning behind challenging relationship patterns and understand how past experiences and unresolved hurts may influence the present. Together, we build greater self-understanding, self-compassion, and self-acceptance so you can relate to yourself and others in healthier ways. You deserve to love and accept yourself. It's time to start.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
By exploring the intermixing of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, we work together to take back control of your life. We mold it into the life you want to live, not simply just the one you have to accept.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Black / African American
Christian
Man
Person of Color (POC)
Top specialties
Anxiety
Burnout
Self Esteem
Other specialties
Anger Management
Attachment Issues
Career Counseling
Codependency
Depression
Emotional Regulation
First Responders/Healthcare Workers
Life Transitions
Loneliness / Isolation
Peer Relationships
Serves
Adults (18 to 64)
Couples Counseling
Elders (65 and above)
Family Therapy
Individual Therapy
Man
Woman
Licensed in
District of ColumbiaLicense LC200003546
IndianaLicense 34009482A
MarylandLicense 31447
VirginiaLicense 0904015430
Accepted insurance
Cash - $158 per session