Michael Herrera

Hi my name is Mike. I am a gay Latino male who can provide services in English and Spanish. Hablo Español. I have 17 years of experience in the mental health field, providing services for various populations and issues. I have worked in community agency settings, at the intensive outpatient level of care for adolescents, and in group facilitation. I am warm, friendly, and passionate about my work. I am creative in techniques and I use humor to facilitate the exploration of concerns. I think I'm hilarious, but I know when to use it, we can both laugh and cry in sessions.

I believe therapy is a space we co create to work on any of your concerns in a nonjudgmental environment. Some people trust easily, while others require more effort to build trust. I plan on earning your trust, what you see is what you get. I will always be open and honest with you and provide feedback for growth. Therapy is a space to work on our victories and defeats and joys and sorrows.

I believe our past impacts us, yet we have the freedom to create the future we want. Sometimes bad things happen in life and everything we go through shapes us. We can transform pain into motivation and drive and survive the impossible.

I use an integrative approach, the psychodynamic approach helps explore our beginnings and the development of core beliefs and schemas which blends with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT allows us to challenge thoughts that create barriers. In my experience, talking things through is important and the second part involves learning skills to make behavioral changes. I teach many skills to fill your toolbox for use outside of sessions.

In our first meeting we will review the limits of confidentiality and complete an assessment so I may better understand how to serve you. My goal is for you to be heard and understood so we can identify growth areas and goals. We will also learn a skill before concluding so you may have a takeaway from the session.