Hi! I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) for 20 years having worked in community mental health and school-based settings in Los Angeles, substance abuse counseling in Austin, and private practice in both CA and TX. Now, based again in CA, I work with adults to gain a healthy sense of self, improve emotional and functional well-being, and build healthy relationships.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session, we will briefly review intake paperwork, then dive into the challenges (and opportunities!) that brought you into counseling. Through the counseling process, as the therapist, I come to understand your life experience and can begin to assist you in addressing issues that will help heal and facilitate your growth so that you may move forward in creating and actualizing the life you want.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Having worked successfully with hundreds of clients over the years, one of my greatest strengths as a provider is my ability to really be present and hold space for people as they express and work through their issues, actively listening, asking clarifying questions, deeply considering the depth of their experience and concern, finding meaning and purpose, and supporting them along the way as they move into resolution.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
As a relational therapist, I love working with adults--young, old, and in between--who are motivate to take a deeper look into their lives... how they got to where they are, what they want to do better, what they are ready to leave behind, and where they want to go!
About Michael Kelley
Specializes in
Serves ages
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) provides a basis to identify and work with thoughts that drive emotions and behaviors. Given our brain's natural 'negative bias' which is designed to identify threats and keep us safe. As a result, we often (consciously or unconsciously) have negative thoughts that directly impact our perceptions, interpretations, and responses/reactions to experiences. Bringing these thoughts into awareness, and examining their impact and role in our lives, can assist us in living with greater purpose and clearer intention.
Relational
Relational Therapy (RT) is based on the idea that mutually satisfying relationships with others are necessary for one's emotional well-being and takes into account the ways social and familial factors relate to the relationships in a person's life. RT aims to build an individual's sense of self and agency, as well as patience with the process and trust of others, learning about boundaries, mutuality, collaboration, cooperation, and healthy balance in relationships.