- ACT techniques
- CBT strategies
- DBT skills
About Michael
Michael Knapik is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in Vermont with 18 years of experience. He lists working with stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, anger, coping with life changes, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, sleep problems, and mood disorders among his focus areas.
He begins from the view that people already have strengths they can use. Sessions concentrate on identifying those strengths and building on them. He combines practical techniques with conversation so people can try new ways of handling hard moments.
His approach draws from several methods including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Existential Therapy. That mix lets him offer skills for emotion regulation, ways to notice unhelpful thoughts, and exercises to clarify values and goals.
Before counseling he worked for many years as a journalist, and he has nearly two decades in mental health practice. He has also volunteered with hospice work, which informs his experience with end-of-life and caregiver stress.
Sessions are aimed at practical changes people can use day to day. He asks about what matters to each person and then works alongside them to try tools and strategies that fit their life.
To begin, people are encouraged to use the site matching and scheduling flow to find a first session and see which session options are currently offered.
Therapeutic approaches and how online sessions work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choosing actions that match personal values. It can help when worry or avoidance are limiting everyday life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thought patterns and test them with practical experiments, which is useful for anxiety, panic, and mood concerns. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes the person's perspective and priorities, offering space to talk while the therapist follows what matters most to the client.Choosing the right approach is part of therapy itself. The therapist will work collaboratively to try methods that fit the client's goals and preferences, adjusting tools and pacing as needed. That means starting with what feels manageable and adding skills or exercises over time.
Session formats are not specified here, so confirm the current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counseling into a workday or a caregiving schedule, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people use methods like behavioral experiments or between-session exercises in the context of their everyday routine, which can speed learning and practice without promising any particular result.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
18+ years
Listed in
Virginia, Vermont
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he help with?
He lists stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, anger, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, sleep problems, mood disorders, and related issues.
What style of therapy does he use?
He uses an eclectic approach drawing on ACT, Client-Centered Therapy, CBT, DBT, and Existential Therapy to offer both skills and reflective work.
How much experience does he have?
He has worked in the mental health field since 2007, giving him 18 years of clinical experience.
What credentials and location are listed?
He is an LPC in Virginia and an LCMHC in Vermont and practices from Vermont for this profile.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can people from other countries work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the site.