Practitioner record · Checked 7 Nov 2026
Michael MacDonell has been in practice 15 years and is licensed in Florida. Michael lists stress, Anxiety, addictions and trauma and abuse among 15 subjects on the BetterHelp roster.
Everything below is either quoted from Michael's own BetterHelp listing, taken from public licensing records, or written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such. Nothing here is an availability promise, a review, or a rating.
01 · Who Michael works with
Michael lists 5 specialisms and 10 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Michael chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.
02 · In Michael's own words
Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.
I'm a licensed therapist practicing in Florida and Michigan with extensive experience supporting individuals through life's most challenging moments. My work focuses on helping clients navigate depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, and addiction, while building greater self-esteem and emotional resilience.
I specialize in addressing isolation, loneliness, communication difficulties, attachment issues, and social anxiety. I also work with clients exploring life purpose, workplace concerns, guilt and shame, and men's issues. My approach honors each person's unique values and worldview, creating a space where you feel genuinely understood and respected.
I draw from evidence-based therapeutic practices to help you develop deeper self-compassion, strengthen your relationships, and move toward meaningful change at your own pace. Whether you're working through past trauma, managing mood challenges, or seeking greater clarity about your direction in life, I'm here to support your journey with authenticity and care.
Taking the first step toward therapy takes courage, and I'm honored to walk alongside you.
Michael MacDonell, on the BetterHelp listing · read 7 Nov 2026
03 · What happens next
Michael practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Michael's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.
BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Michael at this point.
BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Michael is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Michael.
You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.
A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.
Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.
04 · Before you commit
Built from what Michael actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Michael's - Michael has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.
“How do you decide when someone is ready to work on a traumatic memory itself?”
Pacing is the biggest safety question in trauma work. A clear, unhurried answer here matters more than any credential.
“With 15 years in, what has changed most in how you work?”
Long experience is only an advantage if it has been examined. This tends to surface whether it has.
“How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”
On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.
05 · Practical details
06 · Provenance
Michael's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 7 Nov 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.
The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.
Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Michael. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.
Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.
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