About Michael
Michael Mcbrearty offers a straightforward, accepting approach to therapy. He creates a calm, nonjudgmental space where people can talk about stress, anxiety, grief, addiction, and relationship struggles. Michael is a licensed clinical social worker - Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - with twenty years of practice experience in New Jersey and New York.
He blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and mindfulness tools into sessions. That means conversations focus on practical steps, shifting unhelpful thinking, and building small daily habits.
Background and approach
Sessions are collaborative and paced to each person’s needs. Michael trained at Rutgers University, earning a Master of Social Work. He also holds credentialing related to alcohol and substance use work in New York.
His background includes long experience helping people facing addictions, bipolar mood concerns, and the emotional fallout of major life changes. Common issues he addresses include depression, anger, self-esteem, eating concerns, and compassion fatigue. He also helps with attachment and abandonment worries, communication problems, and caregiver stress.
Michael aims to make progress feel doable rather than overwhelming. People who work with him can expect direct conversation, practical exercises, and mindfulness practices that fit daily life. He emphasizes dignity, respect, and steady support while people take steps toward change.
If someone is ready to make a change, he helps map out clear, realistic next steps.
Remote approaches that focus on action and awareness
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. It focuses on values and committed action to move toward a more meaningful life, which is useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thinking and behavior that keep problems going. Sessions include practical exercises to change unhelpful thoughts and build new routines, helpful for mood, anxiety, addictions, and coping skills.
Client-Centered Therapy prioritizes a warm, respectful relationship. The therapist listens carefully and supports people as they find their own solutions, which works well when someone needs steady, empathic support.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Michael will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences. That collaboration helps tailor session activities and homework so they feel useful and achievable.
Online therapy offers flexibility and easier scheduling. Video calls let people use visual cues and longer conversation. Phone sessions work when bandwidth or camera use is an issue or when a shorter check-in fits the day. Live chat and text-based messaging allow brief progress updates, prompts, and between-session support. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life while still using ACT, CBT, and client-centered methods.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
Also works with
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 20 years
- Licensed
- New Jersey, New York
- Languages
- English