Hi! I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida with 20 years of professional work experience helping clients with stress and anxiety, coping with grief and loss, motivation, self-esteem and confidence, & depression. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity, and compassion. I will tailor our dialogue and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
During a client's first visit, they can expect a safe and welcoming environment. We will get to know each other. We will openly discuss their reasons for seeking help, their background, and their current situation or issues they are facing. I will work to establish a rapport with them, actively listening to their concerns and responding in a supportive and empathic way. My approach to therapy will be discussed so the client knows the expectations for future sessions. Overall, the first session provides the space and time for the client and me to establish a trusting relationship and start identifying clear therapeutic goals and a plan of action that is tailored to the individual client's needs. We will get to know each other, and the client can decide whether they would like to continue working with me or not. This is completely their decision and one I will respect. Most of my clients see a gradual lifting of symptoms within the first month and sustained improvement thereafter.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I approach every client with unconditional positive regard and give them the respect, sensitivity, and compassion they deserve as they work from a position of vulnerability to seek to better themselves and leave maladaptive behaviors behind. Taking the first step to sign up for therapy can take courage and I am proud of you for getting started!
As a psychotherapist, I offer a client-centered approach to therapy, which means that I will prioritize the needs and experiences of each client and adjust my approach accordingly. I use a variety of theoretical approaches in my work, including Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Strength-Based, Solution Focused Brief Treatment, and Person-centered (Rogerian). My goal is to create a safe and supportive environment where clients can work towards healing and develop effective coping skills.
About Michael Schwing
Appointments
Virtual
My treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive-behavioral therapy stresses the role of thinking in how we feel and what we do. It is based on the belief that thoughts, rather than people or events, cause our negative feelings. I assist the client in identifying, testing the reality of, and correcting dysfunctional beliefs underlying his or her thinking. I then help the client modify those thoughts and the behaviors that flow from them. CBT is a structured collaboration between therapist and client and often calls for homework assignments. CBT has been clinically proven to help clients in a relatively short amount of time with a wide range of disorders, including depression and anxiety.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a method of therapy that works to engage the motivation of clients to change their behavior. Clients are encouraged to explore and confront their ambivalence. Therapists attempt to influence their clients to consider making changes, rather than non-directively explore themselves. Motivational Interviewing is frequently used in cases of problem drinking or mild addictions.
Strength-Based
Strength-based therapy is a type of positive psychotherapy and counseling that focuses more on your internal strengths and resourcefulness, and less on weaknesses, failures, and shortcomings. This focus sets up a positive mindset that helps you build on you best qualities, find your strengths, improve resilience and change worldview to one that is more positive. A positive attitude, in turn, can help your expectations of yourself and others become more reasonable.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
solution-focused brief therapy to help people of all ages address everything from normal, everyday stressors to high-impact life events, including child behavioral problems, family dysfunction, domestic or child abuse, drug addiction or alcohol use disorder, and marriage or relationship challenges.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Person-centered therapy uses a non-authoritative approach that allows clients to take more of a lead in discussions so that, in the process, they will discover their own solutions. The therapist acts as a compassionate facilitator, listening without judgment and acknowledging the client's experience without moving the conversation in another direction. The therapist is there to encourage and support the client and to guide the therapeutic process without interrupting or interfering with the client's process of self-discovery.
