About Michael
Michael Valdes is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing addiction, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, grief, and life transitions. He draws on 17 years of experience to offer steady, practical support for people trying to change patterns that keep them stuck. Michael aims to make sessions direct and understandable so clients can take clear next steps.
He uses approaches drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and client-centered work.
Background and approach
That means sessions often include noticing thoughts, trying new behaviors, and practicing skills for handling intense feelings. Michael also brings attention to meaning and values when people feel adrift or empty.
People come to him for a wide range of concerns including trauma and abuse, substance and alcohol difficulties, intimacy and sexual identity issues, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, and stress related to work or caregiving. He also supports those dealing with abandonment, attachment worries, jealousy, infidelity, and the challenges that follow separation or divorce. Sessions are oriented toward practical change.
Michael may teach breathing and grounding skills, help reframe unhelpful thinking, and guide experiments in communication. He aims to match the approach to each person’s goals and pace rather than using a single method for everyone. Michael practices in Tennessee and conducts therapy in English.
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, with scheduling arranged through a simple matching and booking process.
Approaches that translate well to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on identifying personal values and taking small committed steps toward them. It helps when people feel stuck or uncertain about what matters in their life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down patterns of unhelpful thinking and tests new behaviors to change mood and anxiety. It is practical for anxiety, depression, and stress. Client-Centered therapy centers the conversation on each person’s experience and priorities, offering a respectful space to process feelings and find clarity.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Michael will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and comfort level. That can mean mixing skill teaching with values work or leaning more into reflective, client-centered conversation depending on what helps most.
Online sessions can make therapy easier to fit into busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be useful when bandwidth is low or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging let people share thoughts between sessions and get flexible support without scheduling a full call.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also works with
- Abandonment
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Bipolar disorder
- Cancer
- Career difficulties
- Coaching
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Postpartum depression
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexuality
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Workplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 17 years
- Licensed
- Tennessee
- Languages
- English