About Michael
Michael Johnnson is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Wisconsin with four decades of experience. He focuses on helping people manage anxiety, depression, stress, relationship problems, and life transitions. He keeps language direct and practical so worried parents and busy adults can quickly grasp what to expect.
He brings many years of practice to each session and tailors his approach to the person in front of him. Sessions can be brief and solution-focused when that fits, or they can move more slowly to untangle deeper patterns.
Background and approach
Michael explains the purpose and plan for each step so clients understand how work is moving forward. Michael often uses techniques from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. He also draws on client-centered and motivational approaches to support commitment and change.
These methods are mixed to fit the concern and the pace someone prefers. He can address a wide range of issues including family and parenting concerns, addiction recovery, caregiving stress, grief, intimacy-related struggles, mood disorders, ADHD, and questions about life purpose. He also has experience with aging and geriatric issues, autism and Asperger Syndrome, blended family challenges, and communication problems.
Sessions are offered in English and held online by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Michael uses a collaborative style and invites clients to shape goals and next steps together.
Practical approaches for online counseling
Michael commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify what matters to them and take steps toward those values even when difficult feelings are present. ACT is useful for anxiety, motivation problems, and life transitions because it focuses on actions rather than trying to eliminate uncomfortable thoughts.He also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thought patterns and test them with real-life experiments. CBT works well for anxiety, depression, anger, and eating-related concerns because it teaches concrete skills for changing thinking and behavior.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Michael will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, history, and comfort level. He explains the purpose of each technique and adjusts pace and focus as needed.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules. Video lets people use visual cues and deeper conversation, phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and chat or text can serve as quick check-ins or shorter sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives, handle caregiving or work conflicts, and keep progress moving between meetings.
Questions people ask
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What this counselor works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Coaching
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Eating disorders
- Family problems
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Relationship issues
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Visually impaired
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 40 years
- Licensed
- Wisconsin
- Languages
- English