Therapist profile
Michael Knapik, LPC, LCMHC
Licensed counselor - Family and relationship concerns
Continue with MichaelAbout
- ACT and CBT
- DBT skills
- Grief and hospice work
About Michael
Michael Knapik is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Virginia and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in Vermont with 18 years of clinical experience. He works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, anger, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, sleep problems, mood disorders, and related challenges. Michael writes plainly and focuses on practical ways to manage day-to-day difficulties at home and work.
Before counseling, he spent three decades as a professional journalist. That background shaped how he listens and asks questions. He aims to help people notice their own strengths and put those strengths to use when life feels overwhelming.
Michael uses an eclectic mix of methods. He draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to change patterns that keep people stuck. He also uses acceptance and commitment concepts to help people clarify what matters and act on those values.
He includes skills from dialectical behavior therapy for emotion and distress management, and he leans on client-centered practices to follow each person’s pace. Michael has longtime experience with grief and end-of-life issues, including many years volunteering with hospice.
Sessions tend to be practical and conversational. He works to break problems into manageable steps and to build habits that reduce stress and improve sleep. People looking for help with communication, codependency, substance and process addictions, or caregiver strain may find this approach useful.
To begin, prospective clients are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session. Costs vary by location and use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How sessions work
How Michael’s therapeutic approaches work well online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values, even when uncomfortable thoughts or feelings show up. ACT can be useful for anxiety, depression, and problems with motivation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing them with real-life experiments, which can reduce panic, improve sleep, and change routines that fuel low mood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills teach practical techniques for handling intense emotions, tolerating distress, and improving interpersonal effectiveness.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michael treats approach choice as collaborative. He will listen to your goals and try methods that fit your situation, adjusting techniques as needed based on what’s helpful in practice.
The practical aim of online sessions is to fit therapy into everyday life. Confirm the exact session formats before booking because the biography does not list them. Many people choose online work for shorter check-ins, to fit sessions into a work break, or to avoid travel. Online sessions can make it easier to practice ACT exercises, do behavioral experiments between meetings, and use DBT skills in real time during weekly work on coping strategies.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
18+ years
Listed in
Virginia, Vermont
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does he help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, addictions, grief, anger, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, sleep problems, mood disorders, and related issues.
How would he describe his therapeutic style?
He uses an eclectic, practical approach that draws on client-centered conversation, cognitive behavioral tools, ACT, and DBT skills to help manage emotions and behavior.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has 18 years of experience in the mental health field and earlier worked for 30 years as a professional journalist.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is an LPC in Virginia and an LCMHC in Vermont, and he practices from Vermont for counseling services.
Can I work with him if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and he does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
Confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not specify which formats are used.
How much do sessions cost?
Costs vary with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.