- 12 years experience
- Trauma-informed care
- Skill building focus
About Michael
Michael Ziegler helps people who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to move forward. He speaks plainly about real problems like anxiety, depression, grief, parenting strain, relationship trouble, and trouble sleeping. Michael introduces straightforward steps so people can begin to feel more in control of daily life.
Michael is a Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, and also holds the LCPC credential. He has 12 years of experience and works with people who have faced trauma, difficult life changes, addiction, and mood challenges. He draws on several therapy methods to match each person's needs rather than using a single approach for everyone.
In sessions he helps clients name clear goals and look at what they are doing that helps or gets in the way of those goals. He commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to change unhelpful thinking and behavior, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to build skills for managing strong emotions. For people carrying painful memories, he often uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to address those memories directly.
His background includes work with law enforcement, first responders, people adjusting after prison, and child-focused family therapy. That variety informs a practical style focused on what works in everyday life. He aims to make therapy understandable and usable, not full of jargon.
Michael invites people to take a first step and try a few sessions to see what changes. He encourages clear goals, gradual progress, and building routines that fit the life someone wants to lead.
Michael is a Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC, and also holds the LCPC credential. He has 12 years of experience and works with people who have faced trauma, difficult life changes, addiction, and mood challenges. He draws on several therapy methods to match each person's needs rather than using a single approach for everyone.
In sessions he helps clients name clear goals and look at what they are doing that helps or gets in the way of those goals. He commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to change unhelpful thinking and behavior, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to build skills for managing strong emotions. For people carrying painful memories, he often uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to address those memories directly.
His background includes work with law enforcement, first responders, people adjusting after prison, and child-focused family therapy. That variety informs a practical style focused on what works in everyday life. He aims to make therapy understandable and usable, not full of jargon.
Michael invites people to take a first step and try a few sessions to see what changes. He encourages clear goals, gradual progress, and building routines that fit the life someone wants to lead.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional focus areas
Attachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy
Experience
12+ years
Credentials
Missouri, Maine
Languages
English
Therapy methods and how they work online
Michael often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and test them with new actions to improve mood and behavior. It is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and everyday stressors. He also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and communication skills that help when feelings feel overwhelming. For people carrying painful memories, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing focuses on processing those memories so they cause less disruption in daily life.Choosing the right approach is a joint process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels manageable. Together they will try methods that fit the person and adjust as progress is tracked.
If you are considering online sessions, confirm which session formats the therapist currently offers before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into busy schedules, reduce travel, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and offer options for people who prefer not to be on camera. Licensed professionals use these methods to support learning skills, managing symptoms, and processing past events while keeping the work focused on practical change.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Michael commonly address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, anger, addictions, relationship and family issues, grief, sleep problems, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar mood concerns, ADHD, and related areas.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He uses a practical, goal-focused style that breaks problems into clear steps. Sessions emphasize skills and changes people can use in daily life.
What experience does he bring to therapy?
He has 12 years of clinical experience and has worked with law enforcement, first responders, people reentering the community after prison, and in child-focused family work.
What credentials and state licensure does he hold?
He is an LPC and an LCPC, with licensure noted in Missouri as MO LPC and ME LCPC.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are costs and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with him?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions based on therapist availability.