I’m committed to the art of living—and to helping people live with more meaning, clarity, and integrity. I believe we all have the capacity to build a good life, even when we’re struggling. My goal as a therapist is to help you reconnect with what matters most to you and move forward in a way that feels more aligned.
I believe meaning can be found in both joy and suffering. I try to meet the full range of human experience with steadiness and compassion, without judgment. Many people connect with what Ram Dass called the “horrible beauty”—the reality that life can be painful and beautiful at the same time.
In therapy, we make space for what’s real: grief, anxiety, fear, uncertainty, and change. And we also make room for strength, growth, and the quiet beauty that can return when you feel more connected to yourself and your life.
Who I Serve
I work with adults and young adults navigating anxiety, major life transitions, and the kind of uncertainty that can arise when life changes—by choice or by force. Many clients come to me while grieving a loss, whether that loss involves death, the end of a relationship, a job or identity shift, or a season of life that no longer feels like it fits. I also support individuals in recovery, Veterans, and people moving through questions of identity, purpose, or spiritual change.
Many clients come to me while moving through depression, anxiety, grief, trauma/PTSD, suicidal thoughts, or experiences that feel difficult to explain—such as inner voices or intense inner conflict. I also work with creatives who feel blocked, stuck, or disconnected from their own momentum and meaning.
I’m especially attentive to people who have a history in the psychiatric or psychotherapy system and feel hurt, misunderstood, or wronged by it. I won’t dismiss your experience or defend “the system.” Instead, we’ll take your grievances seriously, explore them with care, and work toward clarity, healing, and forward movement.
My Style
My style is grounded, relational, and conversational. Over time, I’ve come to believe that connection is central to mental and emotional well-being. Healthy relationships—whether with ourselves, other people, or the world around us—support resilience and meaning. Disconnection, on the other hand, often sits underneath a lot of suffering. We’re wired for relationship, and therapy can be a place to restore it.
I’m not a healer or a savior. I’m someone who will meet you as a person, listen deeply, and stay present with you as you navigate your own process. I work with empathy, curiosity, and real-time attention to what’s happening in the room. I often draw from co-regulation, mind-body awareness, and the “here and now,” allowing the work to unfold in a way that’s responsive rather than mechanical. A strong therapeutic relationship is one of the most important foundations for meaningful change, and I take that seriously.
As a community social worker at heart, I also pay attention to power dynamics—both in relationships and in the broader systems we live within. I believe deeply in a person’s capacity to grow and overcome, and I’m also not blind to the realities of systemic oppression and how the loss of agency can create real inner turmoil. Therapy, for me, is a place to hold both: personal responsibility and compassion for the conditions that shape our lives.
One practical note: my sessions are not rushed or “on the clock” in a strict way. Occasionally I may run a few minutes behind, and I’m always happy to talk about this if timing is important for you. I care about respect and integrity, and I aim to offer a full, attentive hour of presence—not a mechanical cutoff mid-thought. If you need a very strict start-and-stop structure, I may not be the best fit, and I want to be honest about that up front.
Additional areas of focus:LGBT, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Antisocial personality, Attachment issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Avoidant personality, Blended family issues, Body image, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Communication problems, Control issues, Dependent personality, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), Dissociation, Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Drug and alcohol addiction, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, Fatherhood issues, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, HIV / AIDS, Hoarding, Hospice and end-of-life counseling, Immigration issues, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Veteran and Armed Forces Issues, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders, Multicultural concerns, Narcissism, Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Paranoia, Personality disorders, Phobias, Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and discrimination, Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling), Self-harm, Self-love, Sex addiction, Sexual assault and abuse, Sexual dysfunction, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Traumatic brain injury, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Michael Brennan. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
This has been a great experience
Written on Feb 03, 2026 after therapy with Michael for 1 month on issues concerning family conflicts, and trauma and abuse
Compassionate, intentional and very supportive. He is a man who offers a kind set of ears and an empathetic perspective. Never judgemental but challenges one’s perspective in the most respectful ways. A true part of my healing and wellness journey.
Written on Jan 02, 2026 after therapy with Michael for 2 years and 3 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, and adhd
Michael is so understanding, I feel we’ve known each other for years even though we’ve only talked a hand full of times. In a personal world surrounded by women, Michael is the person I’ve been missing, as a guy, for a long time!
Written on Dec 01, 2025 after therapy with Michael for 1 month on issues concerning addictions, and relationship issues
Mr Brennan has been amazing, he listens and genuinely cares about what you have to say. I can’t thank him enough.
Written on Oct 29, 2025 after therapy with Michael for 4 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, sleeping disorders, and compassion fatigue
Michael has been great to work with so far. We've had a couple breakthroughs already. Looking forward to the next call.
Written on Oct 17, 2025 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning relationship issues
Michael has an extremely grounding energy to him and his approach, which I did not realize would be so helpful. Working with him has been great so far!
Written on Sep 03, 2025 after therapy with Michael for 4 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, career difficulties, and adhd
Michael is great. He listens and try’s to incorporate a variety of tools to help navigate certain situations.
Written on Aug 28, 2025 after therapy with Michael for 3 weeks on issues concerning relationship issues, trauma and abuse, parenting issues, anger management, and bipolar disorder
Very kind and comforting to talk to, even through a device you can feel his presence when he listens to you and you can see that he is truly invested in your well being.
Written on Aug 05, 2025 after therapy with Michael for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, and trauma and abuse
Michael Brennan is without a doubt one of the easiest people to talk to and always provides constructive and applicable insight, perspective and knowledge to practically any situation or circumstance and really stimulates the brain. He helps you aquire the tools needed through casual conversation in a welcoming environment.
Written on Jul 24, 2025 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, and intimacy-related issues
He's kind, understanding, professional, listens when you need to be heard and gives sound advice on how to achieve personal goals.
Written on Apr 05, 2025 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, anger management, and adhd
Michael is a great therapist for someone with an assorted background. My biggest problem in seeking help in my adult life has been finding someone who I feel can relate to me and me to them. He is extremely intelligent, well versed in his field, and more importantly to me I feel like his personal life gives him the ability to give me real word advice, not txt book advice that I have to work out how it applies.
Written on Jan 10, 2025 after therapy with Michael for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, and bipolar disorder
Michael is such a free spirit, and extremely calming to talk to.
Even buddha hates Michael
Written on Oct 30, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, anger management, and bipolar disorder
Very friendly, humble, professional, safe and easy to talk to. He cares about you and your well-being above all and makes it his priority to make sure you're getting the best help you can. Amazing therapist
Written on Aug 20, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, and compassion fatigue
Michael has been highly supportive of my personal journey. I've experienced remarkable progress in the eight months I've been seeing Michael. Seeing him on a weekly basis has helped me to stay consistent with creating new healthy habits such as daily exercise and meditation, among others. These, in turn, have helped me become a better, happier and healthier person.
Michael has helped me with his suggestions, his listening and his caring. He understands that the world-at-large creates inherent problems with which I must deal. I highly recommend his holistic approach to mental health care!
Written on Aug 15, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 6 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and adhd
Michael is an amazing therapist!! I can’t wait to speak with him every week. He gives me suggestions on different approaches to handling decision in my daily life!
Written on May 13, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, self esteem, and career difficulties
I love his approach. Definitely a breath of fresh air compared to other therapists I’ve talked to in the past.
Written on Apr 28, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 2 months on issues concerning relationship issues, self esteem, and anger management
Michael Brennan is the kind of therapist that you want in your corner. He listens, supports, encourages, and validates you like a friend and a kindred spirit. He makes you feel relaxed, confident , and comfortable about sharing your true thoughts, questions, struggles and experiences. You will never feel looked down on, pressured, judged or scolded by him. His therapy methods along with his kindness, honesty and positivity are very helpful, healing and motivating. I’m so thankful for his support and help navigating through the painful things in my past/present and the all big feelings that I’m experiencing.
Written on Feb 28, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, sleeping disorders, self esteem, and coping with life changes
Michael is a wonderful therapist
Written on Jan 15, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, anger management, and career difficulties
Michael is excellent logistically and professionally. Responds quickly and thoughtfully outside of session, and provides relevant and thoughtful advice and guidance during session. He also has a seemingly endless memory of relevant papers, works, or quotes pertaining to psychology. Best therapist I’ve had.
Written on Jan 08, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, and self esteem
Michael has an untraditional approach to therapy that leans into fluid, organic conversation versus a structured framework. While I always enjoy our sessions, I wondered recently if that approach would align with my therapy goals – 6 sessions in and everything came full circle to my original intention, with so much unexpected growth along the way!
I always feel heard and encouraged and always feel respected and uplifted from our sessions. I would recommend him to anyone, with the caveat of being open minded!
Written on Dec 23, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, self esteem, anger management, and compassion fatigue
Best therapist I’ve ever had! He gives me new perspective and helps me to rethink the problems I have. I enjoy every session and am very thankful to have matched with him as my therapist!
Written on Nov 17, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 5 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, and adhd
Michael is a considerate and “more human” therapist. Meaning, he doesn’t look at the clock, he doesn’t care to tell you some cliched advice, and he leads without judgment. He was incredibly good at listening and also providing deeper insight while also allowing space for me to lead the conversation and adapt throughout the conversation. I would highly recommend him if you appreciate a more tailored and realist approach. Thank you Michael!
Written on Oct 09, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd
He's an incredibly insightful and kind person who's good at both listening and helping to guide you through your issues. He will help you pull out what you need to talk about, and then listen while you do so.
Written on Sep 22, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 5 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, and adhd
Michael is a great therapist, he is very understanding of a lot of issues and concerns in your life, he is humble and relatable, and I find myself digging deeper into my own feelings with the help of Michael.
Written on Aug 27, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, and self esteem
Great listener.
Open,
Toughtfull,
Has a great discernement of when to talk and when not to.
the whole discussion feels more and more adapted to myself,
and I feel like i have to do the heavy lifting, which makes me trust the process so much more,
thanks a lot!
Written on Jun 05, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 3 weeks on issues concerning addictions, relationship issues, grief, and coping with life changes
Extremely open minded and willing to take the time to listen and exploring different perspectives.
Written on May 02, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, and adhd
Love how when we first met, he set the tone and asked how I liked the conversations to go. Every meeting since went casually, smoothly, and most important to me, organically. Golden nuggets would just drop throughout the conversations because Michael is a great listener and would stop and ask questions
Written on Apr 19, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning family conflicts, self esteem, and coaching
Michael Brennan is excellent therapist! He has always been very supportive and kind. Offers great advice and always is a willing ear to listen to me
Written on Mar 24, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, and coping with life changes
Michael is awesome and I always look forward to my sessions with him. Highly recommend him to others.
Written on Mar 20, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 2 months on issues concerning depression, addictions, relationship issues, and self esteem
Michael has been absolutely amazing. I never felt like his my therapist. I always felt like his my friend that I’m completely comfortable opening up with. I usually struggle on opening up with strangers, but he makes me feel comfortable in every conversation. He has an amazing skill of understanding every deep issue and finding a solution that can help me understand how I need to heal mentally. He takes his notes very seriously with everything I say to him and he connects the line to where it all came from. I am very grateful for him for helping me heal and have me feel like myself again. Thank you again Michael for being so patient with me especially during my pregnancy depression days. I know I can always go back and be comfortable to open up when I need you again.
Written on Mar 06, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue
Michael was very helpful and insightful. He was straightforward and direct. I liked that and needed a push. He provided that and more to me.
Written on Jan 13, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning depression, relationship issues, family conflicts, and anger management
If you’re on the journey to tap into your soul & do the work, Michael is the perfect therapist for you.
Written on Dec 25, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd
I really like Michael since our first meeting and it has been such an amazing and helpful experience for me. Every week I cant wait to have my meeting with him !!
Thank you Michael from the bottom of my heart !!
Written on Dec 21, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life
He's attentive and very helpful in allowing the conversation to just flow and move naturally.
Written on Nov 16, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, anger management, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes
Michael is very patient and grounded. He asks the questions to give the self reflection that is what I wanted in therapy. He is supportive and goes above and beyond to give the help many of us so badly need. I am thankful to be partnered with him and will stay committed to working on myself without feeling hopeless that no one understands because of him.
Written on Nov 12, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Michael was extremely helpful and made me feel comfortable in therapy.
Written on Sep 03, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 3 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, self esteem, and anger management
I’ve had but two sessions with this man and I’ve already had a great weight off my mind and soul it’s been the absolute best and most honest conversation I’ve had in so long that I cannot recall the last comparable to date and I would recommend this Dr to anyone who needed help of any kind a very versatile and professional man I’ve been made to challenge myself to complete honesty within myself and I cannot express the gratitude I have for being paired with this Dr that ends up more as teacher of yourself and a friend that lets you open up as you quickly get comfortable and confident in his skills Thank you is not enough but for a lack of the language required to show thanks that is all I can say
Written on Aug 18, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 1 week on issues concerning addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, anger management, and adhd
Michael is extremely open and very understanding, very excited for our journey together
Written on Apr 29, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, self esteem, anger management, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, and adhd
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