Mike Lyons
I am a licensed Marriage Family Therapist in California. I have a passion for helping people live better lives and find more of what they want in life. With over 30 years of professional work experience, I have worked with people from many cultures, races, belief systems, lifestyles, and experiences and have been able to build an effective relationship with all of them. I have experience in helping clients with depression, stress, anxiety, trauma, abuse, communication issues, relationship issues, parenting issues, motivation, self esteem, confidence, and many more issues. There are times in life when we need an outside perspective to get back on track, improve functioning, or fix something that isn’t working well. We take care of our cars, homes, and finances; our mental health is no different, in fact, it is the "operating system" upon which the rest of our lives operate. If you are at a point where you need help making something better, let's work on it together. In addition to working with adults, I have worked with teenagers, in varying capacities. It is my experience that this period of life is probably the most confusing and often frustrating period of life. Teens are exiting childhood and entering adulthood, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all template to make this a smooth process. Add in the biological factors and social factors and this period of life can be really difficult. If you are having a difficult time, it may be time to see if therapy can help you.
First session
When we first meet, it is important to get to know each other, for you to feel comfortable opening up and talking, and for you to feel that you can get what you need from me. I let you tell me what you need and what you expect from therapy. I do not push you toward anything you are not comfortable doing or saying. I will reflect back what I see and will always be honest with you.
Strengths
I really like people and find that I can get along with anyone. I believe that everyone has good in them and that we are all capable of improving our lives and having more of what we want in life. Humor is important to me and I find that it helps make difficult moments less difficult. Honesty, sincerity and the ability to help you understand complex concepts are some of my strong points. I can use many different approaches to help provided what is needed, and can help you see your situation in a new light that allows you to try new strategies to fix what is not working.
Ideal clients
I really enjoy working with motivated clients who are interested in making their lives better and want to improve things that are not working. I look forward to interactive sessions and find value in building a collaborative relationship that allows me to establish trust, educate, provide skills and insight into difficult dynamics and issues that are holding you back in your life. I want you to get back out there and enjoy your life, I am here to help you do that.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I work to help you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all related and how you may make changes to these areas so that you are able to live a life you find meaningful.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use this method to help you manage emotions and to find ways to tolerate, accept, or change situations that are difficult, distressing or unpleasant. This allows you to navigate your life in ways that may not have been familiar and can help you feel more in control of your emotions and your reactions to them, and less at the whim of situations and feelings.
Solution-Focused Brief Treatment
I find this method useful for many reasons and use it often. Finding a path through difficult situations is important, as it helps you resume desired functioning. I help you identify solutions you can use and how to use the resources in your life.
Couples Counseling
I work with you to identify strengths, weaknesses, and to discuss the issues that are causing difficulty in your relationship. This may involve improving communication, learning each others' needs and how to meet them, recognizing the importance of apology, forgiveness, spending time with each other, work to focus on what is important to ensure long-term compatibility, and learning to take responsibility for what you or your partner have done to harm the relationship.
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Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 42177