About Michael
Michael Luley is a licensed professional counselor with 25 years of experience who helps people facing addiction and anxiety find practical ways forward. He writes and talks plainly so parents and busy adults can understand what to expect in sessions. Michael aims to make each meeting useful and focused on real-life steps.
He spends a lot of time on communication problems and social anxiety, helping people practice clearer ways to speak and connect.
Background and approach
For those dealing with past trauma, he offers steady guidance to reduce symptoms and rebuild daily routines. He also supports people searching for life purpose, helping them clarify values and set small, doable goals. Addiction recovery is a core focus.
Michael helps people create routines, cope with cravings, and repair relationships affected by substance use. He uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques and keeps the work straightforward and goal-oriented. Sessions blend skill-building with personal reflection.
Michael brings practical experience rather than jargon to the room. He listens, points out patterns, and suggests exercises people can use between meetings. He adapts approaches to each person's pace and needs.
Clients meet by phone, video, live chat, or text messaging, which makes scheduling easier for busy lives. Michael practices in Missouri as an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor - and conducts sessions in English. He does not work with international clients.
How Michael brings evidence-based approaches online
The work often draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skills and behavior change. One commonly used approach helps people learn new communication and coping skills through role practice and small homework tasks; this supports social anxiety and relationship stress by building confidence and habit change.Another approach targets trauma-related symptoms by teaching grounding skills, emotion regulation, and structured ways to process difficult memories at a manageable pace. This method aims to reduce distressing reactions and improve daily functioning. For addiction recovery, sessions emphasize routine-building, craving management strategies, and relapse prevention planning to support sustained change.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Michael will work with each person to decide which techniques match their goals, pace, and preferences, adjusting plans as progress is made. He focuses on clear goals and practical exercises that fit into everyday life.
Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video is useful for deeper conversation and visual cues, phone can work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat offers a quick check-in, and texting supports short updates or ongoing prompts between appointments.
Questions people ask
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What this counselor works with
Most often
- Experience
- 25 years
- Licensed
- Missouri
- Languages
- English