Action Counseling

Reviews

• MS

  Maria Stradling

  May 9, 2025
  5.0
  I don’t even know how to put this into words, but I’m going to try. Working with Michael has changed my life. I came into therapy stuck in survival mode—numb, anxious, overwhelmed, and disconnected from my body. I was having panic attacks and full-body freeze responses on a regular basis. I didn’t come in with a clear plan. I just knew something was wrong and I couldn’t keep doing life the way I was. Michael met me right there. At the time, I didn’t know anything about parts work. I just knew I was struggling in ways I couldn’t make sense of. Through our work together, things slowly started to come into focus. Michael introduced me to Internal Family Systems (IFS) and gently helped me connect with the parts of me that had been holding pain, fear, shame, and anger for years—parts I didn’t even know were there. I have major trust issues. Letting anyone in has always felt terrifying. But I can honestly say that I trust Michael. Not blindly or all at once—it’s taken time. But the fact that I’ve been able to get there speaks volumes. That trust has also made it possible to do the work we’re doing. There have been moments I didn’t think I could keep going—not just in therapy, but in life. But he stayed with me through all of it. There have been sessions where I couldn’t speak—not because I didn’t want to, but because something inside me completely shut down. Michael never made me feel crazy for it. He found ways to work with me in the ways I needed. One of my biggest challenges is self-doubt, and Michael continues to help me work through it. I’m learning to trust myself—which is huge for me. Michael actually cares. You can feel it. This isn’t just a job to him. He’s incredibly wise—not just in how he works with trauma, but in the way he listens, tracks, and responds. He notices the things I don’t even say out loud. And he’s gone above and beyond more times than I can count—especially on the days when I couldn’t hold it together. He stays steady, grounded, and calm, no matter what I bring into the room. He’s non-judgmental, relatable, and down to earth in all the ways that matter most. He never pushes me faster than I’m ready to go—which for me, has made the biggest difference. This isn’t light therapy. It’s deep and honest and sometimes brutal. But it’s also the only thing that’s ever actually made a difference. I still have hard days, and have plenty more work to do, but I’m not stuck in the same place I used to be. I’ve come farther than I ever thought possible. I finally don’t feel alone in this. If you’re in survival mode, carrying trauma that feels too heavy, too layered, or like it’s been there for so long you don’t even know where it began—Michael can help. I honestly can’t recommend him enough.

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