Michael Anderson, LICSW

Michael Anderson is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) based in Minnesota. He helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, and issues around intimacy and self-esteem. He also supports people dealing with relationship and family concerns, career strain, sleep or eating difficulties, and coping with major life changes.

Michael draws on practical, down-to-earth methods. Sessions focus on clear steps people can try between meetings. He uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy approaches to identify thought and behavior patterns and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to build emotional regulation and mindfulness. He also brings elements of emotionally-focused, existential, and Jungian ideas when they fit a person’s needs.

Clients can expect direct conversation and simple homework tasks. Michael speaks plainly about patterns that keep someone stuck and works with them to test new ways of responding. He also integrates attention to body sensations and life stories when trauma or long-standing patterns are present.

He trained to be a clinician after many years working in heavy industry, and that background shapes his practical style. He is a professional singer and photographer as well, and he often draws on creativity when it helps a person reconnect with purpose. Michael has six years of clinical experience as an LICSW.

Therapy sessions are offered in English and take place through video calls, phone, live chat, or text messaging. The subscription used for sessions can be canceled at any time, and scheduling follows the therapist’s availability.

How CBT, DBT, and Emotion-Focused Methods Translate Online

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, helps people spot thinking and behavior patterns that keep problems going and then try new, practical strategies to change those patterns. It is often useful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and habits tied to eating or substance use.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness skills. It teaches concrete tools to manage strong feelings and reduce impulsive or self-destructive responses.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on how emotions shape relationships and personal patterns. It helps people identify core feelings and shift how they respond to themselves and others to improve closeness and communication.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, preferences, and the problems they brought to therapy. That process may combine CBT tasks, DBT skills, and emotionally-focused exploration as needed.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for deeper conversation and behavioral experiments, while phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or text messaging can fit short check-ins, skill practice, or times when writing feels more natural. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule and to keep continuity between sessions.