My specialty & love are helping individuals at transition points of their lives, with a focus from Adolescence to Mid-life and beyond.
These are times of dealing with many changes in one's life. These changes may include family, friends, and your role in community.
This is also a time when we are surrounded with "Transition Myths" ie; How we SHOULD be feeling, acting and thinking. Some of these are Memory Loss, Depression, Physical Fitness, Sexuality. My goals are to educate and separate myth from fact while helping YOU ease life's transitions so YOU can continue YOUR life with new hopes and dreams, respect and dignity. Each person is UNIQUE! Issues are NOT AGE SPECIFIC and can impact ANYONE at ANY age!
With advanced education & experience, I offer Memory Loss & Cognitive functioning assessments. Not all memory loss is permanent.
I offer counseling for Pet Grief & Loss. Some individuals have family members with 4 legs vs 2. Those losses are devastating as well and rarely understood by the general public.
I have been providing counseling to individuals from many races, religions, socioeconomic and educational backgrounds for over 30 years. I work with preteens to those over 100 years young. I have provided therapy in my office, in individual homes, in schools and in retirement communities, nursing homes and hospitals. I have provided instructional in-services on cultural awareness and aging issues. I have set up memory clinics and performed routine depression and anxiety assessments.
One of my newer areas of focus, which was a great unmet need has been providing counseling for those who have lost a "4-legged" family member. This is an area that I receive referrals not only from veterinarians but also family doctors and OB/GYNs, "I am referring Mrs. Smith as she recently lost her only child..."
Additional areas of focus: Stress, Anxiety, Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Communication problems, Coping with Natural or Human-Caused Disaster, Divorce and separation, Emptiness, Family of Origin Issues, Gender Dysphoria, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Isolation / loneliness, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders , Multicultural Concerns, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Post-traumatic stress, Prejudice and Discrimination, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Sexual Dysfunction, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Visually Impaired, Women's issues, Young Adult Issues
Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
KS LSCSW LSCSW2122
FL LCSW SW15412
NM LCSW C-11638
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Dr. Michaela Hammer. 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.
Dr. Hammer has been an important part of my last few months as I have navigated major life changes. She is warm and caring and listens without judgment, offering insight and encouragement but is not afraid to ask tough questions too. I have enjoyed working with her.
Written on Apr 09, 2024 after therapy with Michaela for 2 months on issues concerning coping with life changes, and adhd
This has been my first time in therapy of any kind. Dr. Hammer made me feel comfortable immediately. She is professional, understanding, and experienced. I’ll be forever grateful for her help when I needed it most.
Written on Jan 03, 2024 after therapy with Michaela for 1 month on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, intimacy-related issues, and coping with life changes
Fantastic, professional and truly a gifted person. Very glad to have found her, many other therapists were not good fit- but she definitely is.
Written on Nov 27, 2023 after therapy with Michaela for 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, intimacy-related issues, parenting issues, self esteem, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and adhd
Even though this is a virtual app and therapy is from a distance, this has been a great and helpful experience and I highly recommend Dr. Hammer. She is most knowledgeable and caring!
Written on Oct 24, 2023 after therapy with Michaela for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, coping with life changes, and adhd
She has been awesome
Written on Sep 02, 2023 after therapy with Michaela for 2 weeks on issues concerning relationship issues
Dr. Hammer is amazing, she really listens and gives great advice on working through your feelings and anxious thoughts. I highly recommend her to anyone struggling mentally!
Written on Aug 19, 2023 after therapy with Michaela for 4 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, and coping with life changes