About Michael
Michael Shaughnessy is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in Florida with 39 years of clinical experience. He brings a direct, down-to-earth style and a practical approach to conversations about stress, relationships, addiction, grief, and other life challenges. Michael balances warmth and humor with steady persistence to help people keep going when they feel stuck.
He has worked in many settings over the years, including inpatient treatment for substance use, co-dependency, and eating disorders, and has maintained independent practice work in both group and solo formats.
Background and approach
That range gives him experience with depression, anxiety, trauma, and the day-to-day problems that make life harder than it needs to be. In sessions he uses an eclectic mix of methods, with a leaning toward experiential work and a client-centered stance. That means conversations focus on the person in front of him and on what feels most useful in the moment.
He often shares relevant life examples and uses humor to ease tense moments. Michael describes himself as tenacious - he keeps working with a person until progress is made. He helps people name difficult feelings, see patterns that keep repeating, and try practical steps to shift those patterns.
His goal is to help people regain some balance and move forward. People who prefer straightforward talk, occasional humor, and a therapist who keeps trying might be a good fit. Sessions are offered in English and available remotely through video, phone, chat, or text-based messaging.
How his approaches translate to online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely to the person and following their concerns. In practice this means sessions prioritize what matters most to the client, building understanding and practical direction for issues like anxiety, depression, relationship strain, and grief.Existential Therapy looks at meaning, choice, and how life events shape a person. It can help people who feel lost after major changes or who want clearer direction about values, responsibility, and purpose in life.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will check in about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, then adapt the style as needed. Clients and the therapist work together to choose whether more experiential exercises or reflective conversation will move things forward.
Online therapy offers flexibility for people juggling busy days or limited travel options. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction when that matters, phone sessions use less bandwidth, and live chat or text-based messaging can support shorter check-ins or ongoing reflection between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, family life, or other commitments.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he address?
What is his therapy style like?
How much clinical experience does he have?
What credentials and location are listed?
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Which session formats are available?
How are costs and billing handled?
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
Also works with
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Eating disorders
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- LGBT
- Parenting issues
- Trauma and abuse
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 39 years
- Licensed
- Florida
- Languages
- English