Michael Russell

I am a graduate of the University of North Texas Counseling program, which is renowned for its work in the field of Play Therapy and was my area of focus in my education. Following my education I have had the honor of working in local advocacy with many persons and families who have experienced abuse, trauma, and violence in their lives, helping them to work through concerns such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD towards a healthier future. I work with individuals of all ages utilizing different techniques, from Play therapy with children to Activity with adolescents and traditional Talk therapy with adults. I presently see Play Therapy clients on an in-person basis located in the Weatherford/West Fort Worth Metroplex area, and adolescents (age 10+) and adults through telehealth. Outside of my work I enjoy games of all kinds, writing, outdoorsmanship, and keeping up with three needy cats.

I belong to the Existential-Humanistic school of therapy, which emphasizes the uniqueness of each individual while also recognizing the universal human challenges and experiences we share. This approach emphasizes exploration and awareness of self, challenging our anxieties, meeting people where they are in their life journeys, and finding personal answers to the questions life poses to us, big and small. It encourages a sense of acceptance regarding the situations of our lives while encouraging bravery in taking active control of the things we can change for ourselves. When working with younger people I utilize Play and Activity therapy techniques, which seek to meet young people at their level of development by tapping into the natural language of play and fostering their growth towards healthy adulthood.

During the typical talk session we will generally begin wherever you are today, following the humanistic belief that as we work through the issues of the moment we will naturally move towards the larger, core issues beneath them. During this process I may provide feedback, perspective, or present clarifying or challenging questions to help this explorative process. During early sessions we will also explore various concrete mental health skills, such as relaxation techniques and self-care skills, to help empower your mental health journey. As we continue working together, I may suggest additional approaches and techniques that I believe may be helpful to you in your continuing process, such as meditation, expressive therapies, and EMDR (Eye Motion Desensitization and Reprocessing). Sessions with youth meet these same goals but I will utilize an activity therapy approach, meeting a younger mind with respect to developing abilities to communicate and introspect by providing a game or other activity to engage with during sessions which help build the therapeutic relationship.