Michael Graham, LPC

Before Michael, I tried therapy a few times in the past. I tried going at my university for a year, and I also was on betterhelp for a few months with a different counselor. Before, I didn't really feel comfortable or feel like i was being heard. I didn't feel like i really got to make progress. From the very first session with Michael, I felt something different. I walked away from our first session invigorated and excited to move forward, and I have to say, in the months that followed, I experienced therapy like never before. I felt truly heard and understood with everything. I held nothing back from him, and he held nothing back from me. It was incredibly raw and open, and I have never experienced such productive sessions. He was always incredibly kind and personable, and naturally easy to talk to. He always confronts things head on, and doesn't try to coddle. He will always tell you what he's seeing and what his perception is. I firmly believe that if you are willing to be completely open and honest with him, and open to being confronted about things, then there is no better counselor.

Written on Jun 15, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, bipolar disorder, and adhd

Michael gave me the help I needed when I was at my lowest. I've struggled with mental health problems for most of my life, and my solution was to find coping skills to get rid of what I was feeling. Michael showed me what true acceptance, love and compassion for ourselves looks like, and my life has drastically changed! I have a different perspective on life, and I actually enjoy my body and my own company. It's not easy for anyone to overcome mental health and body image issues, and as a male I don't feel comfortable talking about stuff like this with my friends. I absolutely recommend getting help from Michael - he changed my life!

Written on Jun 11, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 6 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, and self esteem

Michael helped me in so many ways I can't even describe! I was someone who had never been in therapy before, and a few months of sessions with Michael have changed my life. His calm, compassionate presence, genuine attention and thoughtfulness are what makes him unique as a therapist and I don't think I would have made so much progress in a short time if it were not for this. He really listens to you and understands what you're going through, and has a way of helping you arrive to solutions you would otherwise have to go without. I would recommend Michael to anyone!

Written on Jun 10, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 4 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, anger management, bipolar disorder, and compassion fatigue

This therapeutic journey with Michael was my first ever experience with better help and counseling in general. I had recently left an abusive relationship and was trying to figure out why I had let myself stay in an unhealthy relationship for so long. I was guilt ridden, questioning my own sanity, and trying to figure out how to pick myself back up.. When me and Michael began talking I was very hesitant to be seeing a male due to past trauma but decided to try it. Our first session I was very withdrawn, and made it known that he couldn't hurt me as he knew nothing about me. I expected to stumble through my life story and ultimately have Michael give me the answer as to why I made the decisions I did to get me to this point. Skip forward several months and I realized that through Michael's unique way of letting me 'practice life', showing me kindness, and teaching me to be kind to myself, I came up with my own answer as to why I made the choices I did. We worked hard on identifying emotions as this was a brand new concept for me. In the end I am so much more calm, and am able to be a better person for myself and am better equipped to care for my son. All the way down to our last session, Michael challenged me, pushed me, helped me find my confidence, gave me a safe space to sort out my thoughts and emotions, and taught me so many life lessons that I will carry forever.

Written on Jun 10, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 6 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, and coping with life changes

It has been an absolute privilege to work with Michael, and I know without a doubt that I am a better person for having met him. I came into therapy with a preconceived notion of what my problems were, and what I needed in order to consider myself "fixed". Michael helped steer me in a different path, instead helping me better understand myself and my emotions, helping me to grow to a point where I now feel emotionally prepared to tackle the problems I initially came in wanting to solve. He is thoughtful, mentally stimulating to talk to, funny, and it's clear that he genuinely cares about the people he works with. Working with him has set an incredibly high bar for any future therapist I might work with because of how successful our sessions were, which was all a direct result of his expertise, and compassion.

Written on Jun 10, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, bipolar disorder, and compassion fatigue

Before I met Michael, my story was this: For 2+ years, I had been dealing with post-partum depression, and hiding suicidal ideations from loved ones. I went from being a very happy go-lucky people pleasing person, to a shell of my former self. I was scared of telling anyone about these unwanted suicidal thoughts I had been having, and hiding it from my loved ones made me suffer even more. Once I sought treatment from my primary physician, I was prescribed antidepressants. I believe that antidepressants work for many people, but unfortunately I had very bad reactions to 5 different kinds. They made my suicidal ideations much worse, at times. I was starting to scare my loved ones. That's when I decided to try talk therapy.

I went through a handful of counselors before meeting Michael. And to be quite honest, I was ready to quit therapy altogether until I met Michael. By this point, I had been made to feel some type of way by medical professionals... That I had severe, treatment resistant depression, that I would never be able to come off of antidepressants, and this impression that something was severely wrong with me. I was told, by a different therapist, that I should place my son in the care of someone else until I was 'better'. This only deepened my fear that I should have never exposed my depression. When you go to the doctor, you're always told "Everything is confidential, unless you have thoughts of hurting yourself, or others". I was really scared to reveal my depression to medical professionals. I was afraid they would say my son should not be in my care, if I'm so "unstable".

Therapy with Michael has completely changed the way I view my mental health.

By the time Michael and I began speaking, I was extremely jaded, withdrawn, and not very open to the idea of continuing therapy. I asked for our first meet and greet to be over the phone, so I wouldn't have to video chat and him see me cry as I tell my story. He is aware that I am suspicious of most health professionals, that I'm just $$$ walking through their door... Mental health care is not cheap, and by then I had spent a LOT of money trying to get better, with no success.

Michael slowly took down my barriers and gained my trust with time, patience, and honesty. Michael is a real guy. Not a saccharine, smooth talking BS'er. He has a lot of experience helping people in crisis situations, and it shows in the way he cares for people. His energy has never made me fearful, nervous, embarrassed, etc in the 6 months of sessions we have had together.

Michael has helped me rebuild my confidence. I understand better how my past has shaped me to become the person I am today. And furthermore, Michael has given me the coping tools and positive reinforcements to where I now feel confident that I will be able to take my future into my own hands, and shape the person I will become.

I've never had to ask Michael for a direct answer to solve my problem. He has always used his talent for metaphor & very thoughtful insights to help me find these answers for myself, and helps me to talk through it all in an extremely safe space.

I no longer feel immense shame when I cry. Michael helped me truly believe that I should not be ashamed of my own emotions.

I no longer have the prejudice that men can't be caring and thoughtful; Michael has incredible emotional intelligence. I specifically requested a female therapist because I believed only another woman could help me through my post partum issues. That is just not the case with Michael. He has every ability to help all different kinds of people in all walks of life.

And most of all, Michael has taught me how to be kind to myself. I didn't realize how such a simple message was so difficult for me to accept. But it has been the most valuable thing Michael has instilled in me... That I deserve kindness, especially from myself.

I could really go on and on. But I don't have to "sell" Michael for him. After meeting him yourself, you can see for yourself why I praise him so highly. Michael truly saved my life. I will always be grateful to him and the incredible impact he has made on my mental health.

Written on Jun 09, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 5 months

I worked with Michael for approximately 4 months. Although it was a short time, he and I were able to get a lot accomplished. Michael always created a safe space for me to share and be vulnerable about my feelings when society is not set up in that way for a couple men. I really resonated with Michael’s methods and approach and how he always treated me with the utmost respect. I always left a session feeling more confident and excited to apply what we talked about. I highly recommend working with Michael.

Written on Jun 08, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and career difficulties

I worked with Michael for almost 7 months and I couldn't recommend him more highly. He created a judgment-free space that allowed me to open up about current life challenges and deeper beliefs about myself. He challenged my thinking with finesse, and I felt safe pushing back and asking questions of my own. Michael uses humor and levity when needed, and it was easy to connect with him on a real level. It was evident during every session that his main focus was supporting me, and he was whole-heartedly invested in my self-discovery. If you're new to therapy, as I was, Michael is the therapist for you!

Written on Jun 07, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 6 months on issues concerning relationship issues, and coping with life changes

I have been working with Michael for a few months now and he has helped me make great progress. I have better skills to help me day to day and for those harder moments in life. He calls you out, not allowing you to keep to old habits. I appreciate his perspective and feel that he has helped me to grow and feel more confident in myself and my actions. I look forward to continuing working with Michael.

Written on May 04, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, career difficulties, and coping with life changes

Michael has been a fantastic counselor, and great partner in my mental health journey. He always has a great analogy when talking through emotions that brings grounding to an otherwise highly conceptual conversation. He has a plan, let's me talk through my feelings, but always brings me back to what we are working on. I highly recommend Michael to anyone looking for a counselor.

Written on Apr 13, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, parenting issues, self esteem, and anger management

Has been absolutely helpful in understanding my problems and helping me work through them. Very cooperative and would definately recommend!

Written on Apr 12, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, self esteem, and career difficulties

I was at a very hard time in my life, and I hadn’t tried counseling. I felt like I was pretty uneasy about it, but I am glad i tried it. Michael is a candle light in a much needed room that can be dark. The guidance that I learned, from my time with Michael taught me new life skills that help me vastly on feeling better. I am glad to have met Michael helped me get past this hard time, and I would very much consider reaching out to him again.

Written on Mar 17, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 1 month on issues concerning depression, and relationship issues

After dealing with extreme panic attacks and anxiety, specifically surrounding big existential stuff, I wondered if therapy would be able to help me tackle such big questions and allow me to find relief. Working with Michael has been so incredibly helpful to me and in our time together. He is very honest, warm, kind, helpful, and compassionate. I was able to tell from my first session with him that his heart is in his work and that he cares very deeply about helping his clients. He's an incredible therapist and he worked with me on some very heavy, deep, and existential life problems with an open heart and a lot of thoughtful listening. I highly recommend him and wish that every therapist could look at therapy like he does.

Written on Feb 25, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and eating disorders

Always able to help me where it’s needed

Written on Feb 21, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue

Michael is an amazing, understanding, warm soul. He always has the right analogy, and is very well spoken. He knows just the right thing to say, and the right questions to ask. He has helped me to process, and grow, through very rough times and for that I am forever thankful.

Written on Dec 21, 2020 after therapy with Michael for 4 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, self esteem, coping with life changes, coaching, and compassion fatigue