About Michael
Michael Johnnson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with four decades of experience. He focuses on helping people who are dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, relationship strain, and other life changes. He aims to make sessions straightforward and practical so clients can use what they learn right away.
He believes the client's history and goals should steer the work. Sessions can be brief and solution-focused when that fits, or slower and deeper when issues are complex.
Background and approach
He discusses the purpose and steps of each part of therapy so people know what to expect. Michael draws on several approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, client-centered methods, and cognitive behavioral tools. He also uses motivational interviewing and solution-focused techniques when helpful.
These methods are used to address things like addiction, grief, parenting strain, and career concerns. He brings life experience with marriage, divorce, blended and inter-racial family life, addiction recovery, and attention-deficit issues. He can incorporate a Christian perspective if a client prefers that frame.
He emphasizes partnership - clients help shape goals and plans. Sessions are offered in English and are provided through video, phone, live chat, or text messaging. Michael practices in Wisconsin and holds a Wisconsin LPC credential.
He aims to support people as they sort through decisions, rebuild routines, and reduce the daily impact of anxiety and overwhelm.
How his approaches translate to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that match their values; it is useful for anxiety, life changes, and finding direction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that keep problems going and then practicing different responses to reduce symptoms. Client-Centered Therapy centers on listening, empathy, and letting the client set the pace and topics for sessions.Deciding on the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, past efforts, and preferences. Together they choose methods and adjust the plan as work proceeds so the approach stays practical and relevant.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video works well for in-depth conversations and visual cues, phone can be a good option when internet bandwidth is limited, live chat suits quick check-ins, and messaging supports brief reflections between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or travel schedules and to keep momentum between meetings.
Questions people ask
What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
What style of therapy does he use?
How much clinical experience does he have?
What are his credentials and where is he based?
Which languages are supported for sessions?
In what formats can sessions take place?
How are sessions billed or priced?
What is the process to start therapy?
What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Coaching
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Eating disorders
- Family problems
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Relationship issues
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Visually impaired
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 40 years
- Licensed
- Wisconsin
- Languages
- English
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.