New to Grow
I’m Michael Ansley, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist and Consultant-in-Training (CIT), certified in Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), and certified in Qigong mindfulness movement and breathwork. I work with teens and adults struggling with trauma, anxiety, stress, emotional overwhelm, nervous system dysregulation, and performance-related challenges. My approach is holistic, evidence-based, and focused on helping clients create real change beyond traditional talk therapy alone. I integrate EMDR, mindfulness, neurofeedback, Trauma-Focused CBT, nervous system regulation techniques, and holistic approaches to help clients feel calmer, more grounded, emotionally balanced, and better equipped to navigate life. Whether someone is working through trauma, burnout, anxiety, recovery, or looking to improve focus, confidence, and performance, my goal is to create a supportive and down-to-earth environment where meaningful healing and growth can happen.
The first session is focused on getting to know you, understanding what brings you to therapy, and creating a comfortable space where you feel heard without judgment. We will talk about your current challenges, past experiences, goals for therapy, and what you hope to gain from the process. I also like to help clients understand how stress, trauma, and the nervous system can impact emotions, behaviors, relationships, and overall well-being. My approach is conversational, collaborative, and down to earth. The first session is not about forcing you to open up before you are ready — it is about building trust, helping you feel comfortable, and creating a plan that fits your needs and goals. During the first session, clients may also get an introduction to EMDR, neurofeedback, and Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT) to help them better understand the different approaches I use and how they may support healing, emotional regulation, focus, relaxation, and nervous system balance.
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is my ability to combine evidence-based therapy with a real, down-to-earth, and holistic approach that helps clients feel comfortable, understood, and genuinely supported. I do not believe healing is just about talking through problems every week — I focus on helping clients create real changes in how they think, feel, regulate emotions, and respond to stress in everyday life. My goal is to help clients break through what traditional talk therapy alone could not. As an EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist and Consultant-in-Training (CIT), certified in Trauma-Focused CBT, and certified in Qigong mindfulness movement and breathwork, I bring both clinical training and personal understanding into my work. I have personally used many of the same practices and approaches I teach — including mindfulness, nervous system regulation, breathwork, movement, meditation, and holistic wellness practices — in my own healing journey. Because of this, I understand how difficult it can feel to break old patterns, move through trauma, regulate emotions, and learn how to feel safe, balanced, and connected again. Many of the clients I work with come into therapy feeling emotionally exhausted, overwhelmed, anxious, disconnected, burned out, or frustrated because they have spent years understanding their problems intellectually without truly feeling different emotionally. They often tell me they are tired of feeling stuck in survival mode, constantly overthinking, emotionally reactive, shut down, or disconnected from themselves and others. My approach is designed to help clients move beyond simply talking about symptoms and begin creating deeper, lasting changes within the nervous system, emotional responses, thought patterns, and overall quality of life. I integrate EMDR, Trauma-Focused CBT, mindfulness-based therapy, neurofeedback, Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT), nervous system regulation, and holistic approaches to support healing on both the mental and physiological level. I believe trauma, stress, and emotional overwhelm are not only stored in thoughts and memories, but also within the body and nervous system. Because of this, treatment often includes grounding techniques, mindfulness practices, breathwork, emotional regulation skills, and brain-body approaches that help clients feel calmer, more present, and more in control of their responses both inside and outside of therapy. I also have a strong passion for helping teens and adults
I work best with people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, or tired of feeling like they have to “hold it all together” all the time. A lot of the clients I work with struggle with anxiety, trauma, stress, burnout, overthinking, relationship issues, low self-worth, or feeling disconnected from themselves. I also work well with people who have tried traditional talk therapy before and felt like they understood their problems intellectually, but still felt stuck emotionally. My approach is real, down to earth, and focused on helping clients actually feel different — not just talk about their problems every week. I integrate evidence-based approaches like EMDR, Trauma-Focused CBT, mindfulness, nervous system regulation, neurofeedback, and holistic techniques to help clients better understand themselves, regulate emotions, improve relationships, and move out of survival mode. I also work with teens and adults looking to improve performance, focus, confidence, emotional regulation, and mental resilience in areas like academics, athletics, work, and creative performance. My goal is to help clients better understand their nervous system, improve how they respond under stress, and build healthier patterns that support both healing and long-term growth.
EMDR
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy designed to help people heal from trauma, anxiety, PTSD, childhood wounds, panic, and distressing life experiences that continue to affect daily life. EMDR helps the brain and nervous system process unresolved experiences so clients can feel less emotionally overwhelmed, less reactive, and more present in their relationships, work, and everyday functioning. In my practice, I use EMDR to help clients move beyond survival mode and create lasting change at the root level—not just manage symptoms. Many clients come to therapy feeling stuck, emotionally exhausted, disconnected, or frustrated that traditional talk therapy has not fully helped. EMDR can help reduce triggers, improve emotional regulation, increase self-confidence, and support a greater sense of calm, clarity, and control. Treatment is personalized, collaborative, and paced to help clients feel safe, supported, and empowered throughout the healing process.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Therapy helps clients develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, physical sensations, and behavioral patterns without immediately reacting to them. This evidence-informed approach can be especially helpful for anxiety, trauma, stress, emotional overwhelm, self-criticism, and difficulty regulating emotions. By learning to slow down and become more present, clients often experience improved emotional balance, nervous system regulation, and self-awareness. In my practice, I integrate mindfulness techniques alongside trauma-focused and nervous system-based approaches, including Vibroacoustic Therapy (VAT), to help clients feel more grounded, connected, and regulated. Sessions may include breathwork, grounding exercises, body awareness, guided mindfulness practices, sound-based relaxation, and nervous system regulation techniques designed to reduce stress and support overall emotional wellness. My goal is to help clients move out of survival mode and develop healthier, more balanced ways of responding to life’s challenges.
Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, brain-based training approach that helps improve self-regulation, focus, emotional balance, sleep, stress response, and overall nervous system functioning. Often described as “taking your brain to the gym,” neurofeedback uses real-time feedback to help the brain learn healthier and more efficient patterns over time. While many clients notice subtle shifts early on, neurofeedback is typically a gradual training process that builds lasting results with consistency. In my practice, I use neurofeedback as part of an integrative and trauma-informed approach to mental wellness. Sessions are tailored to each client’s goals and may support concerns related to anxiety, trauma, ADHD, emotional reactivity, sleep difficulties, focus, and nervous system dysregulation. Neurofeedback may also be combined with EMDR, mindfulness-based therapy, and nervous system regulation techniques to help clients feel calmer, more focused, better rested, and more resilient in everyday life.
Trauma-Focused CBT
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is an evidence-based approach designed to help individuals better understand and manage the impact trauma has on thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships. TF-CBT helps clients develop practical coping skills, improve emotional regulation, challenge unhealthy thought patterns, and process difficult experiences in a safe and structured way. In my practice, I use TF-CBT to help clients build a stronger foundation of coping skills and emotional resilience while working through trauma, anxiety, stress, and life challenges. Treatment may include psychoeducation, mindfulness, grounding techniques, nervous system regulation, and cognitive restructuring to help clients better understand their responses and develop healthier ways of thinking and coping. My approach is collaborative, supportive, and tailored to each client’s individual needs and goals.