Therapist profile
Michael Peterson, LCSW
LCSW focusing on family and parenting concerns
Continue with MichaelAbout
- Stress and anxiety
- Addiction support
- Mindfulness and ACT
About Michael
Michael Peterson is an Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with five years of clinical experience. He focuses on common life stresses such as anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, and parenting concerns. He also works with people facing relationship strain, challenges around identity such as LGBT issues, attention concerns like ADHD, and career or caregiver stress.
He uses clear, direct conversation to help people sort through what feels most pressing. Sessions often involve identifying patterns, trying small changes, and noticing how thoughts and behavior affect daily life. He draws on several therapy approaches to guide that work rather than relying on a single method.
Before focusing on counseling, he held a range of social work roles including case worker and crisis clinician. That range informs how he approaches problems - practical, grounded, and attentive to immediate needs as well as longer term patterns. He aims to be straightforward about options and next steps.
In sessions he pulls from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and cognitive-behavioral ideas to address unhelpful thinking and build manageable habits. Motivational Interviewing and client-centered methods are used to support personal goals and increase motivation. Mindfulness techniques are suggested when noticing thoughts and emotions can help reduce reactivity.
People who want to talk through parenting strain, family conflict, or the effects of caregiving may find the focus here relevant. Sessions are conducted in English and follow the therapist’s LCSW scope of practice in Illinois.
How sessions work
How therapeutic approaches inform online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that reflect their values. It can be useful for anxiety, stress, and life changes when someone wants to focus on meaningful behavior rather than getting stuck in thoughts.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It uses specific exercises and small behavior changes to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety and to address patterns that keep people stuck.
Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and helping a person find their own solutions. Motivational Interviewing can be used alongside this to raise readiness for change, for example around addiction or caregiver stress.
Choosing an approach is part of the work. He will talk with each person about goals and preferences and suggest approaches that fit those aims. That collaborative decision is revisited as needed so sessions stay practical and relevant.
The original profile does not list specific online session formats, so please confirm the available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, or remove travel time. These practical benefits help people keep therapy consistent while working on stress, parenting strain, or behavior change.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, depression, parenting strain, relationship and family concerns, ADHD, and related issues.
What is his therapeutic style like?
He uses straightforward conversation, practical steps, and reflective listening to help people clarify goals and try small, manageable changes.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has five years of clinical experience as an LCSW working in Illinois after roles in case work and crisis care.
What credential and location does he work from?
He is an Illinois LCSW and practices within the scope of that credential in Illinois.
Can he work with someone who speaks another language?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm the current session formats before booking, as the original profile does not specify which formats are offered.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.