About Michael
Michael Peterson is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and grief. He focuses on day-to-day struggles like depression, low self-esteem, relationship friction, parenting strain, and challenges at work. Michael uses straightforward talk and practical steps to help people feel steadier.
He keeps sessions simple and direct. People can expect a calm, nonjudgmental space to say what is hard. Michael listens first, then works with each person to set clear, short-term goals.
Background and approach
Michael has five years of clinical experience as an LCSW in Illinois. Before becoming a therapist he held roles such as case worker and crisis clinician. Those roles gave him hands-on experience with complex situations and with people under stress.
His approach draws on methods like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and client-centered work. He mixes listening, practical skill-building, and values-based planning to help people make changes that matter to them. Michael pays attention to specific concerns such as ADHD, bipolar mood issues, compassion fatigue, and substance use challenges.
He also supports people dealing with family of origin issues, divorce and separation, caregiver strain, and aging-related concerns. Taking the first step can feel hard. Michael aims to make that step easier by offering clear guidance, steady support, and help building small workable changes that fit each person’s life.
Therapeutic approaches and how they fit online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing them with small behavior changes to reduce anxiety and low mood. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a supportive, nonjudgmental relationship where the client sets the pace and direction of work.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences, then suggest methods that fit. That collaborative work helps tailor sessions so techniques are practical and relevant to day-to-day life.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to work together. Video calls let people use visual cues and teach skills in real time. Phone sessions require less bandwidth and can be easier during a busy day. Live chat or text-based messaging supports brief check-ins, homework prompts, or ongoing coaching between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or other commitments while keeping the focus on real, usable change.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
Also works with
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Relationship issues
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 5 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English