Michael Southerland

Michael Southerland is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strains, and LGBT-related concerns. He frames the work around each person’s strengths and goals, and offers steady support while people make changes. Taking a first step toward a more satisfying life is often hard, and he aims to make that step feel manageable and understood.

Michael uses clear, practical methods in sessions. He listens first to learn what matters to the person and then shapes tools and conversation to match those priorities. Sessions focus on what is happening now, patterns that repeat, and small experiments people can try between meetings.

His background includes 12 years of professional experience as an LMFT, working with common relationship and intimacy problems as well as challenges tied to identity, attachment, and mood. That experience informs a flexible approach rather than a single fixed method. He draws on several clinical perspectives to fit the client’s needs.

People can expect straightforward talk and concrete steps. Michael often helps clients spot unhelpful thoughts, trace patterns from past experience, and create achievable changes. He also supports work around body image, commitment struggles, codependency, addiction concerns, and other related issues.

Sessions are geared toward collaboration. Michael invites questions, checks in about progress, and adjusts plans as people try new strategies. He encourages a pace that feels right for each individual and focuses on practical changes that improve daily life.

How his approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy puts the person’s experience first and focuses on listening and empathy. In practice this means sessions aim to reflect what the client says, help clarify goals, and build on the person’s strengths to create change.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps people notice patterns in thinking and behavior that make problems worse. It uses clear steps and exercises to test new ways of thinking and acting, which can help with anxiety, depression, and relationship conflict.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. He will collaborate with the client to decide which methods to try based on goals and preferences. That can mean combining ideas from different approaches and adjusting as progress is made.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow for more flexible scheduling. Confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are available. Many people find that working with a licensed professional remotely still allows for focused, practical work on thoughts, behavior, and relationships, while fitting sessions around everyday routines.