At a glance
- Credentials
- LMHC
- License
- LMHC, New York / 002180
- NPI
- 1871325209
- Experience
- 38 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- New York
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
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- Motivational support
- Goal oriented
- English sessions
About Michael
Michael Smith is a licensed mental health counselor with 38 years of experience. He focuses on helping people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, mood swings, addiction, and other difficult life challenges. He works in New York and conducts sessions in English.
He builds sessions around practical steps people can use right away. Conversations are aimed at clarifying what matters, spotting patterns that get in the way, and trying small changes to see what helps. He uses Motivational Interviewing to support readiness for change and Client-Centered Therapy to keep the conversation grounded in each person’s perspective.
Over his career he has worked with a wide range of concerns, including bipolar symptoms, ADHD, trauma and abuse, grief, and problems with sleep or eating. He also helps people facing career shifts, caregiving and aging issues, isolation, and personality or mood disorders. Sessions emphasize clear goals and manageable strategies rather than long lists of techniques.
Michael combines elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy when useful, so people learn how thoughts and behaviors interact and how to calm intense reactions. He aims to make therapy a practical part of ordinary life, not a separate project that never fits the schedule.
To begin, readers should use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist’s availability. Fees vary with location and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
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How these approaches translate to online work
Motivational Interviewing is a conversational method that helps people weigh reasons for change and build their own motivation. It uses open questions and reflective listening to help someone move toward goals without pressure. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a respectful, nonjudgmental conversation where the person’s perspective guides each session. It helps when someone needs a steady listening space to sort out feelings and decisions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. Online sessions can include brief skill practice, worksheets, and planning small behavioral experiments to try between meetings. Together, these approaches support both understanding and action in everyday life.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and day-to-day demands, and then shape sessions to fit. That collaboration helps set practical targets and choose methods that feel useful and realistic.
The original profile does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, avoid travel time, and use shorter check-ins when needed. These practical benefits help therapy become a workable part of daily life rather than a separate, hard-to-maintain task. -
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueAdditional focus areas
Aging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)EmptinessImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-harmSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryTherapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyExperience
38+ years
Listed in
New York
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does this therapist address?
He works with a wide range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar symptoms, addictions, trauma and grief, as well as sleep, eating, and intimacy-related issues.
What is his general approach in sessions?
Sessions focus on clear goals and practical steps. He blends Motivational Interviewing, client-centered listening, and cognitive-behavioral ideas to help people try small changes and see what works.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He brings 38 years of experience as a licensed mental health counselor working with mood disorders, neurodevelopmental issues, substance concerns, and life transitions.
What credential does he hold and where is he located?
He is an LMHC licensed in New York and practices from that region.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. He does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are used?
The original profile does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking to learn how sessions are held.
How does payment work and what does therapy cost?
Fees vary with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are needed to begin working together?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist’s availability.
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Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers