About Me
Hello. My name is Michael Knapik and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Vermont. I am also certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors. I have been working in the mental health field since 2007. (Before pursuing this career, I was a professional journalist for 30 years.)
My orientation is to focus on a client’s strengths, because I believe that clients are the experts in their own lives and that the role of therapy is most often to assist clients in fully recognizing and using those strengths.
My approach to therapy is eclectic. I draw on resources and interventions from positive psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness-based stress reduction, emotional freedom techniques, solution-focused therapy, compassion-focused therapy, and family systems.
I have experience working with folks who are struggling with addictive disorders, grief and loss, end-of-life issues (I was a hospice volunteer for 16 years), chronic illness and pain, anxiety and depression, and self-harming behaviors.
For today, my hope is that you have compassion for yourself. As Christopher Germer, a psychologist, has remarked:
“A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life.”
Specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Grief
- Anger management
- Coping with life changes
Relationship issues , Family conflicts , Trauma and abuse , Intimacy-related issues , Sleeping disorders , Self esteem , Bipolar disorder , Depression , Compassion fatigue , Aging and Geriatric Issues , Cancer , Read more...
Clinical approaches:
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Existential Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
Services Offered
Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video
Licensing
LPC #0701005243 (Expires: 2021-06-30)
LCMHC #068.0134104 (Expires: 2023-01-31)
Reviews
Mr. Knapik is very approachable and flexible, not only communication-wise but also in exploring different ways to help. I am grateful for all the pointers and exercises that are now becoming part of my routine.
While I ultimately had to change counselors, I was very happy with the advice and resources given to me by Mr. Knapik and could tell that his experience lent itself very well in his specialization. If my situation was different, I would've been very content working further with him.