Meet Michael

Meet Michael

I am a graduate student in the Mental Health Counseling & Wellness program at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, where I am completing my clinical practicum with Steady Compass Counseling Services. I earned my B.A. in Psychology from the University of Denver, where I also minored in English and Literary Arts — a combination that shaped how I listen, and how I think about the stories people tell themselves.

Before graduate school, I worked as an instructional aide at the Hawthorne Foundation, where I built individualized curricula for neurodivergent students and supported them one-on-one through behavioral challenges. I also volunteer with Crisis Text Line, where I've learned how much can shift in a single conversation when someone simply feels heard.

Safe, Supportive & Free of Judgment

I am dedicated to creating a therapeutic space that feels safe, supportive, and free of judgment — one where clients feel genuinely heard and comfortable exploring their inner world.

My approach centers on helping individuals develop greater self-awareness, build confidence, and move through life's challenges with clarity and compassion. I believe meaningful change happens through relationship, and I work collaboratively with clients to set the pace, identify what matters most, and build forward at a rhythm that feels right for them.

What We Can Work On Together

I work with clients navigating anxiety, stress, and depression, as well as those seeking support around personal growth, self-esteem, and conflict resolution. Through my experience at the Hawthorne Foundation, I also bring familiarity with neurodivergent youth and adolescents, and a developmentally attuned approach to working with younger clients and their families.

What You Can Expect

As a graduate intern, I bring genuine curiosity, careful listening, and a steady commitment to showing up fully for each client. My background — from working one-on-one with neurodivergent students to supporting people in crisis through text — has taught me that real change rarely arrives in one moment. It builds, slowly, in the space between someone speaking honestly and someone else taking it in without flinching.

I aim to make therapy feel less like a performance and more like an honest conversation — one where you can think out loud, sit with difficult feelings, and gradually build a clearer sense of yourself. I work under close supervision by licensed clinicians and offer compassionate, high-quality care at a reduced fee — making support more accessible without compromising the quality of your experience. I see clients in person at our Nyack, NY office and via telehealth.

A Little About Me

Outside of clinical work, I'm drawn to creative writing, ongoing reading and research within psychology, and getting outdoors — hiking and running are how I clear my head and stay grounded. I think the work we do as therapists is better when we're tending to our own lives too, and these are some of the things that help me stay present for the people I work with.