IFSTherapists

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

LICSW

Michael Anderson, LICSW

  • Experience6 years
  • LocationMinnesota
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Addictions, and Trauma and abuse
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Continue with Michael

Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.

About Michael

Michael Anderson is a LICSW based in Minnesota who draws on six years of clinical experience and a personal history of navigating depression, anxiety, addiction, and career transitions.

Background and approach

He blends practical therapeutic tools with a creative sensibility developed as a professional singer and photographer, helping clients uncover strengths, confront barriers, and explore meaningful change. His approach emphasizes curiosity about one’s internal life and practical strategies to reduce distress and improve daily functioning.

He uses a range of evidence-informed methods including Internal Family Systems, CBT, DBT, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, and existential ideas to address concerns such as trauma, relationship struggles, grief, substance issues, anger, ADHD, and self-esteem. Sessions focus on developing skills for emotion regulation, challenging unhelpful thought patterns, and increasing self-compassion while attending to lived experience and life purpose.

Michael frames therapy as a collaborative process aimed at resolving impasses and supporting sustained personal growth, guiding clients toward greater clarity and a stronger foundation for change.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Internal Family Systems supports exploring different parts of the self by helping people notice, understand, and compassionately relate to inner experiences that drive thoughts and behaviors; it can be useful for working with trauma, shame, and patterns of self-criticism. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thought and behavior patterns through practical exercises and skill building, which often helps with anxiety, depression, and habit change. Dialectical Behavior Therapy emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness skills to reduce intense emotional reactions and improve interpersonal effectiveness.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with clients to weigh what feels most useful based on their concerns, goals, and preferences, and may integrate elements from different methods to create a personalized plan rather than relying on a single model.

Online sessions using video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging offer flexibility for scheduling and let people access support from home or while traveling. These formats make it easier to fit consistent work into a busy life and allow therapists to use a mix of conversation, skills coaching, and written exercises adapted for each medium.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Michael commonly address?
He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, relationship and family issues, grief, intimacy concerns, eating and sleeping problems, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and related areas.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
His style combines practical skills work with reflective exploration, emphasizing mindfulness, emotion regulation, and collaborative problem solving tailored to each person nd their goals.
What is his clinical background and experience?
He holds six years of professional clinical experience and draws on personal and vocational experience to inform his work with clients seeking growth and recovery.
What credentials and location should clients know about?
Michael is a licensed clinical social worker with the credential MN LICSW 22391 and practices in Minnesota.
Does he offer services in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are conducted in English and he is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available for working with him?
Clients can work with him via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their preference.
How are sessions priced and billed?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and services are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin therapy with him?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to the therapist vailability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsTrauma and abuseDepression

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBody imageCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDissociationDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessMen's issuesMidlife crisisMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSelf-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobia

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

6+ years

Licensed

Minnesota

Languages

English