Michael Garrison , LMSW, LCSW

Michael Garrison is a Michigan-based school social worker and licensed clinician with LMSW and LCSW credentials. He brings roughly ten years of clinical experience, including several years working directly in school settings and close to a decade in community mental health agencies serving people with severe and persistent mental illness. As a clinician he has supported children, adults and couples through complex challenges and transitions.

He has specialized training in parent management approaches, including PMTO (parent management training - Oregon model), which emphasizes positive role modeling, respect and household safety as foundations for effective parenting. His clinical work also encompasses trauma, addiction, personality disorders and mood disorders. He is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy and is a certified EMDR therapist, offering tools for processing traumatic memories and improving emotional regulation.

Michael describes a therapy style grounded in support and validation, prioritizing the therapeutic relationship as a core element of change and growth. He encourages insight through reflection, discussion and practical practice, meeting clients where they are and concentrating on goals that promote a fuller life and improved mental wellbeing. He has expressed that he welcomes the opportunity to work alongside individuals and families when appropriate.

Evidence-Informed Approaches for Remote Care

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, helps people identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. It is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and mood-related concerns and focuses on practical skills that can be tried between sessions.

DBT, or Dialectical Behavior Therapy, combines acceptance and change strategies to build skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance and interpersonal effectiveness. It can be especially useful for impulsivity, intense emotions, relationship difficulties and co-occurring mood concerns.

EMDR, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a trauma-focused approach that supports the processing of distressing memories and related symptoms. It is frequently used for post-traumatic stress and for those who struggle with lingering effects of traumatic experiences.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Michael collaborates with each person to assess needs, goals and preferences, and adapts techniques from these models to fit the individual. This collaborative process helps identify which methods are most helpful and when to combine approaches.

Online therapy via video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging offers flexibility to fit therapy into daily life. These options make it easier to maintain regular sessions despite work, family or geographic constraints and allow licensed professionals to deliver consistent, goal-focused care across different formats.