01 · Who Michael works with

Michael works with stress, Anxiety, addictions and relationship issues

Michael lists 15 specialisms. 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

What Michael says about the work

Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.

My name is Michael. I love tennis, running, college football, my work, and my wife (not necessarily in that order). I have over 3 decades of experience in providing a safe enough space for people to examine/explore and hopefully resolve whatever issues precipitated their reaching out for assistance. I have found, over the years, that entering therapy is, for most, somewhat of a last resort; if it really was an easy fix, they would have resolved the issue on their own with a friend, mentor, or previous therapist. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Florida and have worked in numerous settings over the years, including inpatient treatment for substance abuse, co-dependency, and eating disorders. Have been in private practice for several decades, in both a group practice and as a solo practitioner. Have encountered and assisted folks suffering from depression, anxiety, and various trauma’s due to distressing life experiences, as well as folks becoming a little lost along the way. Have assisted numerous couples trying to save or make their marriages better. As a private practice therapist, I have been privileged to work with people from many cultures and from various walks of life. I can best be described as eclectic in approach, with a strong tendency towards experiential therapy, and have found that acceptance of myself and others is one of the keys to harmony in this world and in my life. My clients and I laugh often in therapy, as I tend to utilize humor wherever I can. I possess what I call a tenacious spirit, as I never give up on anyone. I am competent and compassionate when assisting others who are experiencing periods of pain and loss, and the complicated feelings experienced as we go through life. I am insightful and energetic, drawing upon decades of personal as well as professional experience, sharing easily and often the life experiences I have lived (my mistakes as well as successes). I believe we are shaped by the experiences we have lived and that various aspects of our personality have evolved over time and will continue to evolve as we live our lives. Sometimes we get stuck and need a little nudge to address what we would rather not whereas others dive into the issues they know they need to. I work, at times, to assist in helping develop a balance between our internal parent/adult and child selves, as an imbalance in these aspects of the personality can create the distress that precipitates an entry into therapy.

Michael Shaughnessy, on the BetterHelp listing · read 10 Oct 2026

03 · How Michael works

The 1 approach Michael lists, in plain English

These are the clinical methods Michael lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not Michael's - a general explanation of what each method is, so the list means something before you have spoken to anybody. They are not a claim about how Michael runs a session.

Client-Centred TherapyPerson-centred · Rogerian

The therapist does not steer toward a technique or a diagnosis. They offer sustained, non-judgemental attention and reflect back what they hear, on the premise that people find their own direction when they are genuinely listened to. Often what people mean by “someone who just gets it”.

Also listed

• Existential Therapy

04 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

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.

1. A questionnaire, not a booking form

   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.

2. Naming Michael specifically

   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.

3. If the caseload is full

   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.

4. The first conversation

   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.

5. If the fit is wrong

   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.

05 · Before you commit

3 questions worth asking Michael

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 39 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.

06 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential

LMHC

Licensed in

Florida

Licence

FL LMHC MH9936

Licence number

MH9936

Licence expires

31 Mar 2027

NPI

1255300380

Years in practice

39

Gender

Male

Languages

English

International clients

Accepted

Listed since

15 May 2026

07 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

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 10 Oct 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.