Michael LeFever (He/him)

We work together to help people identify and experience their emotions without judgment through mindfulness. Often trauma, which may not be apparent in the beginning, can cause us to experience intense emotions, such as anger, fear, anxiety, sadness, guilt, and shame. I utilized talk therapy and/or EMDR to help clients recover from trauma.

I focus on helping those that are LGBTQIA+ and have experienced trauma or struggle with self-acceptance. This will often include discussion about religious trauma. I am comfortable with helping clients become confident in their gender and sexual identities in a judgment-free environment. I am trans-affirming, kink positive, and polyamorous affirming. I provide a judgment-free environment to help clients feel comfortable exploring sensitive topics.

I have earned a BS/MS in nutrition and dietetics to provide support to clients with eating disorders. I provide holistic care and support other members of the treatment team such as registered dietitians. I work with individuals to repair their relationship with food and help them identify and process their emotions connected with food.

Motivational interviewing is about moving through resistance and finding solutions to solve problems. We have a conversation and focus on understanding resistance to change and learn how to move forward. There is no pressure to change, he will meet you where you are at and help the client look at the benefits and consequences of actions. If a client is comfortable with the situation, that is perfectly fine and they do not have to change. This is collaborative.

With person-centered therapy, Michael focuses on helping clients find solutions to their own problems. It is not Michael’s responsibility to tell people how to solve their problems because they are the expert in their lives. We collaborate and search for answers that bring acceptance and healing.

The mind can often heal itself through a natural coping mechanism that occurs during sleep, particularly during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Francine Shapiro developed Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) in 1987, utilizing this process to successfully treat PTSD. Since then, EMDR has been used to effectively treat a wide range of mental health problems that produce intense distressing emotions. We work together to reduce disturbance and improve positive beliefs.

I have worked predominately with the LGBTQIA+ community heal from trauma sustained from non-affirming religious institutions. Through the use of EMDR I have helped people heal from intense emotions and low self esteem. Trauma isn’t cured, but the severity of symptoms can be greatly reduced.

Since 2010 I have been helping people with trauma. Through the use of EMDR I have helped individuals reduce the intensity of their symptoms and helped them be able to move forward with minimal disruptions in their daily lives.

I’ve been working with the trans community since 2010 through sexual health and later through therapy. I provide letters of support to help with gender affirming care.

I’ve been trained in EMDR to help people recover from religious trauma. I’ve worked frequently with the LGBTQIA+ community to help people recover from histories of trauma.

I’ve worked with the LGBTQIA+ community since 2010 through sexual health and later through therapy. I have provided and attended trainings on issues unique to the LGBTQIA+ community. I am kink affirming and provide a judgment free practice to help clients explore their authentic selves.

I work with individuals who have lived through trauma. This includes emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. Many of my clients are from the LGBTQIA+ community who have experienced extensive religious trauma. Religious trauma includes internalization of the teachings where our beliefs about ourselves become overwhelmingly negative.

I work with individuals that are on the spectrum to help identify triggers for sensory overstimulation, self advocacy, and ways to cope with a world that rarely gives accommodations to neurodivergent people. We work on communication and understanding how conversations are expected to flow with neurotypicals. We work to understand ourselves and accept our varying strengths. We do not work to masking our characteristics, but learn to advocate for accommodations from friends and family.