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MH Portrait of Dr. Michaela Hammer

Dr. Michaela Hammer

Compassionate guidance through life transitions

LCSW Florida

Experience
35 years in practice
Focus areas
Relationship, Grief, Depression
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English

About Michaela

Dr. Michaela Hammer draws on nearly four decades of clinical experience and a client-centered stance to guide people through major life transitions.

Background and approach

She blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with trauma-informed and solution-focused techniques to address issues such as relationship difficulties, grief, depression, anxiety, stress, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, and intimacy-related struggles. Her approach emphasizes separating myths about aging and change from practical steps clients can use to move forward with renewed purpose.

With an LCSW and extensive practice in Florida, Dr. Hammer offers assessment services for memory and cognitive functioning and provides resources and education alongside therapeutic care.

She has worked in a range of settings including offices, homes, schools, retirement communities, nursing homes, and hospitals, and has led in-services on cultural awareness and aging. She also provides focused counseling for pet grief and loss, recognizing how deeply those losses can affect people.

Dedicated to collaborative, respectful care, she aims to help each person preserve dignity while pursuing new hopes and goals.

Using Evidence-Informed Approaches in Online Care

Dr. Hammer commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns that contribute to depression, anxiety, stress, and mood concerns; CBT offers practical tools for managing symptoms and developing coping strategies. She also employs Client-Centered Therapy, which prioritizes empathy, respect, and collaborative exploration so clients feel heard and supported while they define their goals. Motivational Interviewing is used when people are weighing change or feeling stuck, helping to clarify values and strengthen personal motivation for meaningful shifts.

Deciding which approach fits best is part of the collaborative work. The therapist and client review goals, preferences, and life context together and may draw from multiple methods over time to address evolving needs. This process is designed to be flexible and responsive rather than fixed.

Online therapy offers practical benefits for people with busy or constrained schedules. Video calls and phone sessions provide real-time conversation similar to face-to-face meetings, while live chat and text-based messaging can be useful for brief check-ins, skill practice, or follow-up between sessions. These options increase accessibility and scheduling flexibility so clients can engage in therapy in ways that fit their daily life.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
Areas of focus include relationship difficulties, grief, depression, anxiety, stress, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, trauma and abuse, parenting and intimacy-related issues among other life challenges.
How would you describe the therapeutic style used?
The practice emphasizes a client-centered stance combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, solution-focused methods, motivational interviewing, and trauma-focused strategies tailored to each person's needs.
What is Dr. Hammer's clinical background?
She brings 35 years of professional experience working in diverse settings and has developed memory clinics and provided routine depression and anxiety assessments during her career.
Where is the therapist located and what are her credentials?
She practices in Florida and holds LCSW licensure with the details FL LCSW SW15412 and NM LCSW C-11638.
Can sessions be conducted in languages other than English?
Services are provided in English; international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available for working together?
Clients may meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging according to the therapist's offered formats.
How is payment handled and what does therapy cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy with this clinician?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling based on therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorder

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationEmptinessFamily of origin issuesHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Sexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaVisually impairedWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

35+ years

Licensed

Florida, New Mexico

Languages

English