Michael Ziegler

Skilled trauma-informed counselor focused on practical change

LPC, LCPC Missouri

Experience: 12 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Parenting
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Languages: English

About Michael

Michael Ziegler welcomes people who are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure about how to move forward. He frames those moments as opportunities to ask for help and to build clearer ways of thinking and acting that lead toward a more satisfying life.

Background and approach

With 12 years of clinical experience, Michael focuses on mood and behavior concerns, relationship struggles, trauma recovery, parenting challenges, and other life disruptions that can erode confidence and forward momentum. Michael is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) who combines practical, goal-oriented methods with trauma-informed care.

He commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques alongside EMDR for processing traumatic memories, and draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy and mindfulness practices to strengthen emotional regulation and everyday coping skills. His background includes work with first responders, people reentering the community after incarceration, child-focused family therapy, and individuals processing persistent painful memories.

Rather than prescribing a single path, Michael adapts evidence-informed tools to suit each person's needs, preferences, and goals. He invites clients to collaborate on realistic changes to thinking and behavior so they can move toward the life they want to build.

Therapeutic Tools Adapted for Online Care

Michael commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors to reduce distress and improve daily functioning. He also applies Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for processing traumatic memories and easing persistent emotional reactions tied to those memories. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills and mindfulness practices are often woven in to help clients build emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and more balanced ways of responding to difficult situations.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Michael works with clients to assess their goals, symptoms, and preferences, and adjusts techniques as progress unfolds so the plan fits each person's needs. Together they prioritize practical changes and coping strategies while addressing underlying issues that interfere with well-being.

Online therapy with Michael is available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to access care from home or elsewhere and to continue work between sessions using brief check-ins or messages when helpful.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns can Michael help with?

He works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, relationship and family challenges, grief, sleep problems, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and many related struggles.

What is his therapeutic style and approach?

Michael blends practical, goal-focused techniques with trauma-informed interventions, using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside EMDR, DBT skills, and mindfulness to tailor treatment to each client's needs.

How much clinical experience does he bring?

He has 12 years of clinical experience, including work with first responders, people adjusting after incarceration, and child-focused family therapy.

What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?

He holds LPC and LCPC credentials with licence details MO LPC 2016025948 and ME LCPC CC6849 and is based in Missouri.

Which languages and client locations are supported?

Therapy is offered in English, and he is not accepting international clients at this time.

What session formats are available for online work?

Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and needs.

How are costs and payment arranged?

Costs vary depending on location and therapist availability, and sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working together?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuseParenting issuesAnger managementDepression

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

Attachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shame ImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disorders Panic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

12+ years

Licensed

Missouri, Maine

Languages

English