Sheet 1
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- ACT and CBT
About Michael
LCSW Michael Valdes is a Tennessee licensed clinical social worker with 17 years of experience. He works with adults on issues such as addiction, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, and grief. Sessions address a broad range of concerns including trauma, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, career stress, and compassion fatigue.
Michael uses several established methods in therapy. He draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people clarify values and take manageable steps. He uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills for emotion regulation and coping. He also incorporates Client-Centered and Existential approaches when they fit the problem at hand.
In sessions he focuses on practical skills and direct conversation. He helps people identify patterns that keep problems going, and then practices alternative responses. Work may include addressing communication and trust issues, infidelity, jealousy, or commitment concerns.
Michael also supports people facing addiction and substance concerns, and those navigating separation, divorce, or family conflict. He offers work on sexual concerns such as BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture without moral judgment. He can help people process abandonment, attachment wounds, guilt, shame, and forgiveness.
Therapy often blends short-term coping skills with deeper exploration of meaning and values. Michael aims to collaborate on clear goals, develop practical tools, and revisit what is working. Sessions are conducted in English in Tennessee, and he does not work with international clients.
Sheet 2
Therapeutic approaches and how they translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values. Online sessions using ACT can focus on short behavioral experiments and value-driven goals that fit into daily life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and changing patterns of behavior. In an online setting CBT often uses brief skill practice, thought records, and concrete homework between sessions.Choosing the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will discuss goals and preferences, then try methods that suit the person's situation. If an approach does not fit, adjustments are made together so the work remains practical and goal oriented.
Session formats are not detailed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. It can also let people use video or phone options depending on comfort and bandwidth. The main benefit is being able to continue regular, focused work from wherever scheduling makes sense, while using ACT and CBT tools adapted to remote sessions.
Sheet 3
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
Tennessee
Languages
English
Sheet 4
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he address?
He works with addiction, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and many related concerns such as ADHD and bipolar mood matters.
What therapeutic approaches does he use?
He uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Existential Therapy depending on the client's needs.
How long has he been practicing?
He has 17 years of clinical experience providing psychotherapy and related supports.
What are his credentials and where is he located?
He is an LCSW, licensed in Tennessee, and provides services to people in that state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does he work with international clients?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are session formats handled?
Session formats are not specified here; confirm the current session options before scheduling to know what formats are offered.
How much do sessions cost and how do they bill?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the urgent help numbers.