Michael VanderWaal

Private Practice Psychotherapist

Michael VanderWaal, LCSW, is a dedicated mental health professional with a background in psychology and social work, specializing in assisting individuals and groups in overcoming barriers to achieve their life-worth-living goals.

With over a decade of experience, Michael has worked in various settings, including a residential drug and alcohol treatment program, an after-school program mentoring at-risk youth, and a Community Mental Health Agency, where he provided counseling to individuals with severe and persistent mental illness.

Michael holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) with a focus on Clinical/Medical Social Work from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology from Andrews University.

Currently, Michael is a Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern in Florida, working towards becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Passionate about helping individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, self-harm, substance use/abuse, and health management, Michael adopts a Person-Centered, Strength-Based approach influenced by Existentialism.

His therapeutic toolkit includes Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Techniques, and Illness Recovery Management (IMR), emphasizing the importance of a relationship-driven approach to therapy.

Michael's multicultural experiences, having traveled to over fifteen countries and being conversant in Spanish, equip him to effectively work with diverse individuals with intersectional identities.

In his personal time, Michael enjoys activities like road biking, pick-up soccer, swimming, cooking, and spending quality time with his wife and friends.

His professional journey includes roles as a Private Practice Therapist at Moss and Main Therapy, and previous positions at organizations like Jewish Family Services of Orlando, Heart Bonds Counseling, Southwest Solutions, Water Street Glassworks, Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center, Inc., and Andrews University as a Psychology Research Assistant.