Michael VanderWaal

I'm a licensed clinical social worker with six years of experience specializing in trauma, grief, and life transitions. My approach is integrative, drawing on Internal Family Systems (IFS), cognitive-behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based practices to support clients in making sense of difficult experiences and building real, lasting change. I work with warmth and directness, creating space where clients can slow down, get honest with themselves, and move forward with greater clarity. Whether you're navigating loss, processing trauma, or feeling stuck at a crossroads, my goal is to offer steady, skilled companionship through that work.

My approach is integrative, drawing on Internal Family Systems (IFS), cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness practices to meet clients where they are. I work collaboratively, with curiosity and warmth, helping clients explore their inner experience, process what's been difficult, and reconnect with their own capacity for resilience and change. Sessions feel like a conversation, not a protocol.

The first session is mostly about getting to know each other. I'll ask about what's brought you in, what you've tried before, and what you're hoping for. There's no pressure to have it all figured out. Most clients leave with a clearer sense of what we'll work on together and some early confidence that this is a space where they can be honest.