Licensed to practice in 3 states and accepts 62 insurances. Specializes in Mood Disorders, Self Esteem, Trauma and PTSD and 10 more.
Michael Henderson
(he/him)
Clients say this provider is
About me
Do you experience stress that can lead you to feeling overwhelmed? Does your stress cause you to isolate yourself from your family and friends? Are you struggling with thoughts that prevent you from being your 'true' self? I support individuals struggling with their thoughts and emotions to make sense of what challenges they face. Working together, we will explore current challenges, how your thoughts and emotions impact your efforts to make sense of these challenges and discover ways to empower yourself to resolve and flourish from these challenges. My role is to support you! Practicing as a psychotherapist for 18 years, I have extensive skills in mindfulness, support, and empowerment. In our sessions, I focus on providing a safe, comfortable space without judgment. I use compassion, genuine focus, and years of clinical training as a psychotherapist to support resolving your challenges.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. I will explore these challenges with you to create a specific plan to work through in follow-up sessions.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I strive to create a therapeutic relationship with my clients, providing an environment based on safety, trust, clarity and empowerment. Through accomplishing the therapeutic relationship, the client understands the impact thoughts and emotions have throughout their life. Empowerment also provides clarity to understand the past, and how past experiences impact coping and resiliency in the present. Clarity gives you insight, so you can understand the meaning of the past experiences to make sense of where you are now. Knowing yourself in the present allows you to move to the future with courage and strength.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I am passionate about working with adults as a psychotherapist. I have a strong belief in the power of the therapeutic relationship to facilitate growth, healing, and transformation. In my 18+ years of providing psychotherapy to adults, my passion to understand adult development continues to evolve. I am committed to supporting adults with understand their unique challenges that impact their mental health and overall well-being. I am committed to using my professional strengths and passion to heal others toward emotional well-being and personal fulfillment.
Specialties
Top specialties
Mood Disorders
Self Esteem
Trauma and PTSD
Other specialties
Anxiety
Autism
Chronic Illness
Depression
Grief
Life Transitions
Men's Issues
Older Adults
Peer Relationships
Racism
Identifies as
Man
Pacific Islander
Person of Color (POC)
White
Serves ages
Adults (18 to 64)
Elders (65 and above)
Licensed in
California
Idaho
Nevada
Accepts
Aetna
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - Lucent Health
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Ambetter from Health Net
Amerihealth Administrators
Amerihealth NJ Medicare Advantage
Anthem
Blue Cross
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Shield
Cash - $100 per session
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
GTEB
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Health Net (Commercial)
Humana - Medicare
Humana Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
Blue Shield of California - Medicare
Independence Personal Choice 65 PPO
Independence Keystone 65 HMO
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Regence BlueShield of Idaho
Regence Group Administrators
Scripps Health Plan
Sharp Health Plan
Surest (formerly Bind)
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
Sutter Health Plan
IHSS Healthy Workers
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)
UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
Location
Virtual
My treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients develop psychological flexibility—the ability to be present, adapt to challenges, and take meaningful action in alignment with their values. ACT enables me to guide clients in recognizing and accepting difficult emotions rather than avoiding them. Through mindfulness techniques, cognitive defusion, and values-based goal setting, I help individuals, couples, and families shift from struggling with distressing thoughts to engaging in purposeful action. This approach fosters greater emotional resilience, healthier relationships, and personal fulfillment. By focusing on acceptance, mindfulness, and committed action, ACT supports clients in breaking free from unhelpful patterns, cultivating self-compassion, and building a life that reflects their deepest values. Whether navigating relationship challenges, anxiety, or personal growth, ACT allows me to provide a structured yet flexible framework for meaningful and lasting change.
Motivational Interviewing
As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I utilize Motivational Interviewing (MI) to empower clients to make meaningful changes by exploring and strengthening their own motivation. MI is a client-centered, collaborative approach that helps individuals, couples, and families resolve ambivalence, clarify values, and take purposeful steps toward their goals. Through empathetic listening, open-ended questions, and reflective dialogue, I support clients in identifying their intrinsic motivations for change. Rather than pushing solutions, I help them uncover their own reasons for growth, fostering greater self-efficacy and commitment to positive change. This approach is particularly effective in addressing challenges such as relationship conflicts, behavioral patterns, and life transitions. By focusing on autonomy, confidence, and personal values, MI allows me to create a supportive and nonjudgmental space where clients feel empowered to take action in ways that align with their goals. This approach leads to lasting transformation, helping individuals move from hesitation to meaningful progress in their personal and relational lives.
Trauma Informed Care
As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I integrate Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) to create a safe, supportive, and empowering environment for clients who have experienced adversity. Understanding that trauma impacts not only emotions but also thought patterns, behaviors, and relationships, I approach each client with sensitivity to their unique experiences and responses to stress. By prioritizing safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment, I help clients process their experiences without re-traumatization. I recognize the ways past trauma can shape present struggles, and I work with individuals, couples, and families to develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience. My approach incorporates evidence-based strategies that foster healing, whether addressing relational challenges, anxiety, or personal growth. Through a trauma-informed lens, I guide clients in rebuilding a sense of control, strengthening emotional connections, and cultivating self-compassion, allowing them to move forward with confidence and well-being.
Attachment-based
As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I incorporate Attachment-Based Therapy to help clients understand and heal relational patterns rooted in early attachment experiences. This approach acknowledges that our earliest relationships shape how we connect, trust, and respond to others throughout life. By exploring attachment styles and relational dynamics, I help individuals, couples, and families recognize how past experiences influence current relationships. Whether addressing insecurity, emotional disconnection, or relational conflict, I guide clients in building secure, meaningful connections by fostering trust, emotional safety, and effective communication. Using a compassionate, client-centered approach, I support clients in identifying and reshaping unhelpful patterns, strengthening their sense of self, and developing healthier, more fulfilling relationships. Through this work, clients gain deeper emotional insight and the tools to create lasting relational change, whether in romantic relationships, family bonds, or personal growth.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
As a Marriage and Family Therapist, I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and change unhelpful thought patterns, emotions, and behaviors that impact their well-being. CBT is an evidence-based, goal-oriented approach that empowers clients to develop practical skills for managing challenges such as anxiety, depression, self-esteem issues, trauma, and relationship difficulties. Through CBT, I collaborate with clients to help them recognize how their thoughts influence their emotions and behaviors. By challenging negative thinking patterns and replacing them with healthier, more constructive perspectives, clients can experience greater emotional resilience, improved problem-solving skills, and lasting personal growth. I integrate mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, and behavioral techniques to help clients break free from self-defeating cycles, build confidence, and create meaningful change in their lives and relationships. This structured yet flexible approach allows me to support clients in achieving their goals, managing distress, and cultivating a more balanced and fulfilling life.
10 ratings with written reviews
June 10, 2026
Michael is down to earth human who knows how to listen and be empathetic. I have felt heard in his session and lighter during his sessions. I would definitely recommend him to others.
Verified client, age 25-34
December 16, 2025
He is an empowering, warm, and understanding therapist who truly listens. His feedback is thoughtful and always focused on helping me reach my goals. He doesn't just tell me what I want to hear, he's willing to challenge me and say what I need to hear, which has made a real difference in my growth. His offering composed of encouragement and positivity is unparalleled.
Verified client, age 25-34
December 2, 2025
Thank you for challenging me to take an hour for myself.