Michael Simon

Michael has been in private practice for the last 24 years, primarily in Oakland, California. He works from a cognitive-interpersonal perspective, utilizing the insights and empirical research based in Control-Mastery theory, along with the tremendous and growing insights in the developmental sciences. Control-Mastery theory emphasizes and is centered around the idea that people come in to therapy with an unconscious plan to work on their difficulties, and to remove the obstacles that prevent or interfere with the pursuit of normal development goals. Therefore, my view is extremely positive and progressive—that people come to therapy with a wish and real willingness to master their difficulties and not to remain stuck in old, unhelpful patterns.

Michael believes that when you enter therapy, you will be entering a collaborative process whereby you assist him in understanding both what your goals are and what beliefs, attitudes and behaviors might be undermining your conscious and unconscious life goals. You will find in the work a great deal of respect for your abilities to communicate just what you need—even if you have trouble talking directly about what you want. He works with adult individuals, couples, families and youth, and specializes in working with teens and their families.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from San Francisco State University and a Master of Arts in Religious Studies/Philosophy from Temple University. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LA. MFT1193, CA. MFC38305), with licenses granted by the Louisiana LPC Board of Examiners (Louisiana) and by the Board of Behavioral Sciences/Department of Consumer Affairs (California). License verification is available online.

Michael is also the founder of Practical Help for Parents—a support organization for those who work daily with adolescents—as well as a school counselor, educator, and author of "The Approximate Parent: Discovering the Strategies That Work with Your Teenager" (Fine Optics Press, 2012).