- Years in practice
- 15
- Credentials
- MD, LCSW-C
- Licensed in
- Maryland
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Relationship issues
- Focus
- Family conflicts
About Michael
Michael Misterka is a licensed clinician with 15 years of experience helping people make practical changes in their lives. He focuses on concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and parenting challenges, grief, addiction, anger, and trauma. Michael holds an MD and is an LCSW-C, and he practices in Maryland.
Sessions are offered in English. He keeps sessions straightforward and client-directed. Michael uses talk-based work to help clients identify goals and try small, doable changes between meetings.
Background and approach
He sees therapy as a partnership where the client decides priorities and pace. The therapist encourages honest conversation about what is and isn’t working. Michael draws from several approaches to match what each person needs.
Attachment-based ideas guide work on close relationships and connection. Emotionally-focused methods help when strong feelings get in the way of intimacy or trust. He also uses client-centered and psychodynamic perspectives to examine patterns that repeat over time.
Practical tools and motivation techniques are part of sessions when change feels stalled. He will help people break goals into steps and stay accountable without judgment. For parenting concerns he offers concrete strategies to manage stress, set limits, and improve communication with co-parents or others involved in caregiving.
People who choose Michael often want a direct, steady guide through difficult life transitions. He aims to reduce suffering and increase satisfaction by working on real-world problems. Getting started involves a short intake and a schedule that fits the client’s routine.
What Michael works with
Everything Michael lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Michael helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- ADHD
- Attachment issues
- Blended family issues
- Communication problems
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
Approaches Michael lists
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How these approaches fit online therapy
Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how close relationships shape feelings and behavior. Online work with attachment ideas helps people notice patterns in relationships, repair connection, and practice new ways of relating. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) centers on identifying and shifting strong emotions that block closeness. It is useful for managing intense feelings, improving intimacy, and resolving repeated conflicts. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes the client’s goals and pace and offers a supportive space to explore problems and try different solutions.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss your goals, listen to your preferences, and suggest ways of working that match your needs. You can try an approach and adjust it over time until it feels helpful.
Online sessions offer flexibility and practical benefits. Video calls let you use visual cues for relationship work and emotion-focused exercises. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or you prefer not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for quick check-ins, shorter reflections, or keeping momentum between visits. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and keep progress moving forward.
Questions people ask about Michael
What concerns does Michael address?
He supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, parenting questions, grief, trauma, addiction, anger, and related issues like self-esteem and life purpose.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
Sessions are client-directed and straightforward. Michael works as a partner who helps set goals, try practical steps, and talk honestly about what changes are wanted.
What experience does he bring to therapy?
He has 15 years of counseling experience working with people facing relationship conflict, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, substance-related issues, and major life transitions.
What are his credentials and where is he located?
He holds an MD and is an LCSW-C. His practice is based in Maryland and he works with English-speaking clients.
Can I work with him if I live outside the United States?
International clients are not accepted. Sessions are offered in English for people within the stated region.
Which session formats does he offer?
He provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different schedules and preferences.
How is cost handled for therapy sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What do I need to do to begin working with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.
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