- Emotionally-Focused Therapy
- Client-Centered approach
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
About Michael
Prof. Michael McGaugh is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Missouri with 22 years of experience in mental health services. He works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting concerns, anger, self-esteem, career questions, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and coping with life changes.
He began in community support roles such as adult case management and intake work before moving into counseling. That background informs a practical approach to sessions. He focuses on helping people see problems from different perspectives and make choices that support better functioning and clearer thinking.
His work draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy among other methods. He uses mindfulness and existential ideas too. In sessions he helps clients notice emotions, patterns, and the thinking that keeps problems going.
Sessions often include talking through specific situations, practicing coping strategies, and trying small changes between meetings. He also emphasizes building awareness of feelings and relationship patterns when those are relevant to the concern.
His education includes advanced degrees in psychology and mental health counseling. He combines that training with years of front-line experience to offer practical tools and ways of thinking that clients can use day to day.
How his approaches translate to online sessions
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on identifying and naming emotions and the patterns they create in relationships. It helps people recognize attachment-related feelings and the interaction cycles that keep them stuck. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes the client's perspective and pace, relying on listening and reflection to help people clarify what matters to them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses practical exercises to change unhelpful thinking and habits.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will help a person and the therapist together decide what fits best based on the client’s goals, needs, and preferences. That collaborative process may mix elements from different methods as the work progresses.
The biography does not name specific session formats, so confirm which options are offered when you book. In general, online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, shorten travel time, and allow check-ins that are brief or scheduled between other commitments. Some approaches work well when sessions include behavioral experiments or written exercises that can be done between meetings, and those tools translate well to remote work. If you need clarification about session length, frequency, or the available delivery method, ask when you complete the matching questionnaire.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
22+ years
Listed in
Missouri
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar, ADHD, and coping with life changes.
What is his therapeutic approach like?
He uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside Client-Centered and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy methods to help people notice emotions, change unhelpful thoughts, and try practical coping strategies.
How much experience does he have?
He has 22 years of experience in mental health services, including work as an adult case manager and an intake specialist before focusing on counseling.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Missouri.
In which language are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
The biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How does payment and cost work?
Session cost varies with location and services, 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 a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.