Dr. Michael Smith

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I work with individuals who are often seen as strong, capable, and self-aware, yet internally may feel overwhelmed by anxiety, trauma, grief, or a persistent sense of being stuck. Many of the people I work with have tried therapy before and are looking for something deeper—an approach that helps them not just cope, but truly understand and transform what they are carrying.

My work integrates EMDR, existential-humanistic therapy, and depth psychology to help clients process difficult experiences, understand the patterns shaping their lives, and reconnect with their own resilience. I have particular experience supporting those navigating loss, serious illness, caregiver stress, and major life transitions, as well as professionals who carry significant responsibility for others.

My style is warm, engaged, and thoughtful, but also direct. I believe meaningful therapy involves both feeling deeply understood and being gently challenged toward growth. Together we work to build insight, emotional freedom, and a stronger sense of agency so you can move forward with greater clarity and intention.

In addition to my clinical work, I provide supervision and consultation to therapists and support professionals working in high-stress environments, particularly those connected to grief, trauma, and end-of-life care.

If you are looking for therapy that is thoughtful, depth-oriented, and focused on real change, I would be honored to work with you.

My theoretical orientation is grounded in the belief that symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and emotional overwhelm are often meaningful responses to unresolved experiences rather than problems to simply eliminate. My work focuses on helping clients understand what their distress may be communicating while developing the capacity to process what has felt overwhelming or unresolved.

I primarily work from an integration of EMDR, existential-humanistic therapy, and depth psychology. EMDR allows us to directly process experiences that remain stored in ways that continue to activate the nervous system, while existential and depth-oriented work helps clients make meaning of their experiences and develop a stronger relationship with themselves.

I view therapy as both a healing and developmental process. Beyond symptom reduction, my goal is to help clients increase self-awareness, emotional flexibility, and a greater sense of agency in how they relate to their internal and external worlds.

My work is also influenced by my experience in hospice and end-of-life care, where I have seen how confronting vulnerability, loss, and uncertainty can become opportunities for profound psychological growth. This perspective informs my belief that therapy is not only about feeling better, but about becoming more fully engaged with one’s life in an authentic and intentional way.

The first session is designed to help you feel understood while also giving you a clear sense of how I work. Many people come in unsure where to start, so I help guide the conversation while making plenty of space for what feels most important to you.

We will explore what is bringing you in now, patterns you may be noticing, and what you would like to feel different in your life. I also pay attention to your strengths, not just your struggles, because therapy works best when we build on what is already working within you.

If EMDR may be helpful, I will explain how it works and how we decide together when to use it. Early sessions often focus on building stability, understanding your nervous system, and developing a shared roadmap so therapy feels purposeful rather than open-ended.

My goal is for you to leave the first session feeling clearer about your situation, more hopeful about change, and confident that there is a thoughtful plan for the work ahead.