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I am a licensed professional counselor and certified rehabilitation counselor. I served the State of Alaska as Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for 7 years. I’ve had my own private practice for 2 years.
I am a client centered therapist with an existential philosophy. I believe an empathetic judgement free space is essential to any therapeutic process. I also believe that all change must be individualized and client directed through a co-created therapy process. I believe client’s are experts of their own experiences and have both the power and knowledge to make the choices needed to make lasting change to significantly improve quality of life.
I have worked with a wide variety of clients with various backgrounds, mental health disorders, neurological disorders, and physical disabilities.
I also utilize therapeutic methodology from reality therapy, solution focus therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), internal family systems therapy (IFS), behavioral therapy, and others. However, my most utilized method is to be curious of client’s inner experience and how I may be of help.
Professional experience
9yrs in practice
Stress, AnxietyCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changes
Additional areas of focus:Addictions, LGBT, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Adoption and Foster Care, Attachment issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain illness and disability, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Divorce and separation, Domestic Violence, Emptiness, Expats, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, Fatherhood Issues, First Responder Issues, Forgiveness, Gender Dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Intellectual Disability, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Military and Veterans Issues, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders , Multicultural Concerns, Narcissism, Obsessions, Compulsions, and OCD, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Paranoia, Personality Disorders, Phobias, Polyamory / Nonmonogamous Relationships, Post-traumatic stress, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visually Impaired, Workplace issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Existential Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems
Services offered
Video
Phone
Messaging
License information
AK LPC 178744
WA LMHC LH 61436983
Reviews
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Michael Pretz. 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.
Michael is a kind, consistent, intelligent, thoughtful, appropriately sensitive human being and therapist. He works hard to understand me, help me, and make me a better person in an emotion/psychological that is open, compassionate and effective. It makes me happy knowing I am not the only one that has the benefit of his expertise and his wonderful humanity.
Written on Mar 12, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 8 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, and coaching
I've been "seeing" Michael Pretz for a year this February and my relationships with my adult daughters has improved immensely.
Having a therapist that listens, holds space for me and keeps it professional is hard to find. Michael Pretz is an excellent therapist.
Written on Mar 05, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 1 year on issues concerning relationship issues, family conflicts, and parenting issues
I feel so blessed to match with Michael. He has a lot of great insights which can guide me to improve my quality of life. I am very thankful for his work and I am looking forward to exploring more with him.
Written on Jan 24, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning coping with life changes
Totally happy that I started Better Help and feel lucky to have been assigned to Michael Pretz.
Written on Jan 05, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 1 year and 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, and anger management
Michael has been my therapist for almost two years and has helped me through a lot. I owe a lot of my mental stability to the work we have done together!
Written on Jan 05, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 1 year and 9 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, lgbt, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, self esteem, and adhd
It is the most safe I have ever felt in therapy. I feel seen heard and respected.
He is gentle and yet effective at helping me see the parts of myself and behavior that need attention and care. Highly recommend
Written on Jan 03, 2024 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning lgbt, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, and adhd
I am incredibly grateful after every session. I always leave it with more understanding of myself and the issues I’m struggling with.
Written on Aug 09, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 1 year and 6 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, self esteem, relationship issues, and intimacy-related issues
Michael has been a kind, caring, and supportive listener. Every session, I feel like I've received new insight about myself, grounded in thoughtful observations gleaned from things I've said.
Written on Jun 05, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 1 year and 10 months
Michael has been great to work with. He always listens intently, is very open and easy to talk to, is understanding, and participates actively in our conversations. He has really helped me see some things in a new way and approach things with different perspectives.
Written on Feb 21, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and career difficulties
Highly recommend Michael's work, dealt with relationship issues, life changing events, stress. Would definitely work with Michael again.
Written on Jan 30, 2023 after therapy with Michael for 3 weeks on issues concerning relationship issues, and coping with life changes
I’m new to this therapy thing and Michael has made it very easy to open up and gain wisdom by grounding me.
Written on Dec 07, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, anger management, and coping with life changes
Michael is a great therapist who listens deeply and offers a range of support. Whether it is teasing out a challenge into manageable bits or collaborating on action plans, he’s able to match the need as it is expressed in the moment.
Written on Nov 23, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 1 year and 4 months
Amazing to work with. He is understanding in all areas and non-judgemental in working; making it easier to open up to him
Written on Oct 17, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning intimacy-related issues, and self esteem
Michael is a gifted therapist, he shows empathy & compassion, respects the issues I’m dealing with, and helps me navigate my experiences with new perspective.
Written on Oct 03, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, coaching, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Turned my view around on therapy and really helped
Written on Jul 10, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 6 months on issues concerning lgbt, relationship issues, and parenting issues
I would say he’s an excellent therapist. The way he breaks down what seems to be the end of the world for me into easy to understand and digestible chunks is just I need. He speaks with analytical data to back up his reasoning and uses just the right mix of textbook classic therapy and more modern methods which brings clarity to a lot of things in your life. Highly recommended.
Written on Jun 06, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 3 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, career difficulties, and adhd
hes great.
Written on May 30, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, and family conflicts
I was very comfortable with Michael right away. He remains highly professional while being approachable and very non-judgmental.
Written on Apr 15, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning addictions, lgbt, relationship issues, and intimacy-related issues
Michael has been great.
Written on Mar 22, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 3 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, and self esteem
Michael has been super helpful so far. He is very good at identifying the actual root cause of my issues, and he also has given me great tools to work on those issues as well as things to ponder in between sessions to determine my way forward. I would definitely recommend him to anybody!
Written on Mar 15, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, depression, self esteem, relationship issues, coping with life changes, career difficulties, and grief
Really enjoy talking to him, last person I expected to be able to relate to my experiences but he did and we were able to overcome a lot of my struggles.
Written on Feb 28, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, and relationship issues
Excellent therapist
Excited to continue
Written on Jan 05, 2022 after therapy with Michael for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Michael was very quick to help me identify that I have adult ADHD. He’s been extremely supportive as I navigate my challenges. He also challenges my way of thinking enough so that I have been able to improve the relationships around me. I am great full for his experience.
Written on Dec 22, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, anger management, and bipolar disorder
Michael honestly knows me better then I know myself. He’s pulled things from my self that I deep down would have never opened up about or even realized that that was a root cause. He allows me to understand my emotions when I’m so overwhelmed and in a downward spiral. He’s unreal! The intensity in which he listens AND HEARS is out of this world. I couldn’t have asked for a better human being to help me through my issues and daily ways of life.
Written on Oct 25, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, parenting issues, self esteem, and adhd
Micheal is a very good listener and not only able to interpret what you're saying but glean the deeper meaning behind your words. I'll gladly recommend him to anyone wanting help bettering themselves.
Written on Oct 24, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 2 months on issues concerning depression, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, career difficulties, and adhd
Michael has been a supportive counselor that understands my situation and provides me a safe space to share my thoughts. I am grateful for his advice. I always look forward to my next session.
Written on Oct 22, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, sleeping disorders, career difficulties, and coping with life changes
I’ve finally found a therapist who provides useful solutions rather than just sitting there and nodding. It’s a style that works for me and after only two sessions I’m starting to see situations and problems with a different view point and have the tools I need to manage them.
Written on Oct 17, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 3 weeks
Offers great insight. Excellent listener, really good at placing me in a positive mindset and truly helps declutter the conflicts in my mind.
Written on Oct 05, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, anger management, coping with life changes, and adhd
Michael has been great at walking me through the realization that I'm struggling with ADHD. He's helped me also realize that some of my strengths come from the way I process. Overall, great experience.
Written on Sep 06, 2021 after therapy with Michael for 3 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, self esteem, and adhd
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