- Client-centered work
- CBT for thought patterns
- Narrative reframing
About Michael
Michael Southerland is a California-licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 12 years of experience. He works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, and LGBT-related concerns, along with relationship and intimacy difficulties.
He approaches therapy from the view that clients know their own stories. He helps people use their strengths to face hard feelings and situations. Sessions are practical and conversational rather than filled with jargon. Michael aims to make the work feel doable one step at a time.
Michael draws on Client-Centered methods to follow what matters most to each person. He uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify patterns of thinking that keep feelings like shame or worry active. Narrative and Solution-Focused ideas help reframe painful stories and find small, concrete changes that make a difference.
In sessions he listens for what a person wants to change and what has worked for them before. He helps people name the feelings that come with guilt, shame, or regret, then looks for specific, achievable next steps. Conversations may cover relationships, identity, body image, addictive behaviors, or attachment questions, depending on the person's concerns.
People who choose him can expect a down-to-earth style that balances reflection with practical suggestions. Michael offers therapy in English in California and works with adults who bring emotional, relational, or identity-related struggles. To begin, a short matching questionnaire and an initial session are used to set goals and plan the next steps.
How Michael uses therapeutic approaches online
Michael often combines Client-Centered Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Client-Centered work means the conversation stays focused on what the person says matters most, helping them clarify feelings and priorities. CBT involves noticing thought patterns that keep anxiety or shame active and practicing different ways of thinking and behaving to reduce their impact.Narrative and Solution-Focused ideas also appear in his work. Narrative techniques help separate a person from painful stories so those stories can be revised. Solution-Focused elements focus on small, concrete changes that can be tried between sessions to see what helps.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. He will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, preferences, and the problems they bring. That choice can shift over time as needs and goals change.
Confirm the exact online session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, or remove the need to travel for an appointment. These practical benefits help many people keep therapy consistent while they work on guilt, shame, relationships, or anxiety.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
12+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, LGBT-related issues, relationship problems, and intimacy difficulties, plus a range of related topics such as abandonment, body image, and codependency.
How does he approach guilt or shame in sessions?
He listens for the story around the feeling and uses conversational techniques to name reactions. Then he looks for small, practical steps to shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors.
What is his clinical background?
He has 12 years of professional experience working with adults on emotional and relational concerns.
What credential does he hold and where does he practice?
He is an LMFT licensed in California and practices there.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can I work with him from another country?
International clients are not accepted at this time.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Click the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session to get started.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.