Michael Brennan (LCSW)

About Me I’m committed to the art of living, and to living what the ancient philosophers call the good life. I believe we all have the capacity to live a good life, a meaningful life. My goal as a therapist is to help individuals identify and cultivate their personal meaning. Meaning can be found in both joy and suffering. I practice holding a perspective that allows me to accept and appreciate what is—all of it—without judgement. I’m practice what Ram Dass calls the horrible beauty—that is, the horror and beauty in all of life. My work as a therapist consistently brings me face to face with undeniable pain and suffering. Equally undeniable, is the absolute beauty that I’m witness to on a regular basis. To ignore suffering is negligence, and to disregard beauty is reckless. Who I Serve? I serve youth in foster care, teens in the juvenile justice system, individuals in recovery, couples in crisis, families in distress, teens finding their way, identity crisis/spiritual emergency, Veterans, individuals in hospice, as well as those journeying with depression/sadness, suicidal ideation, anxiety/fear, grief, PTSD, and inner voices. I also work with creatives who feel stuck. I’m particularly sensitive to individuals who have a history in the psychiatric/psychotherapy system, and who feel like they’ve been wronged. I’ll not defend “the system”; instead, I’ll help you articulate, explore, and move through your grievances. My Style Through my therapy experience, I’ve found that relationships are central to mental/holisitic health. Healthy social connections produce wholesome people and communities, while social disconnection is at the root of most suffering. We’re evolutionarily and neurologically wired to connect—to ourselves, to one another, and to our surroundings. While I am neither healer nor savior, I am committed to helping individuals navigate their own healing journeys. Through the use of co-regulation, empathy, curiosity, deep listening, the “here and now”, mind-body awareness, flow, and spontaneity, I develop synergistic relationships with my clients. A positive therapeutic relationship is the basis for good outcomes. And, as a bona fide community social worker, I take special interest in power dynamics and their impact on individual and community well-being. While I strongly believe in an individual’s capacity to overcome against all odds, I’m not blind to the harsh realities of systemic oppressions, and how the loss personal agency leads to inner turmoil. PSSSSSS. I sometimes run 5-10 mins late. If this is a particular issue to you, tell me; I will take it seriously, even though I may not always be able to accommodate. I am not a disrespectful person. But my work is not mechanical; in fact, it is quite organic. Would you want to be cut off at the bell? I always offer an full hour, despite only being paid for 45 minutes. If you don’t have the flexibility, I may not be your person. With respect.