Dr. Michael Hayes

Dr. Michael Hayes focuses on helping people navigate stressful life changes and relationship strain. He listens with patience and helps clients name what matters most. His approach is straightforward and aimed at making daily life feel more manageable.

He has 21 years of professional experience and holds an LPC credential. He has worked with people dealing with anxiety, grief, family conflict, and the fallout from separation or divorce. Conversations in sessions are intended to be direct and practical rather than overly clinical.

Dr. Hayes uses methods that center the client and their goals. He draws on Client-Centered Therapy to follow each person’s pace and priorities. He also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try alternative behaviors that can reduce stress.

He incorporates elements of the Gottman Method when relationship issues are a focus, using structured exercises to improve communication and reduce conflict. He aims to create clear steps people can try between sessions to test what helps.

People often come for help with caregiver stress, workplace pressure, body image concerns, guilt, or a sense of isolation. He supports practical coping skills, clearer communication, and realistic next steps for moving forward. If you want a therapist who listens and offers down-to-earth tools, he may be a fit.

How his approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and following the person's lead, which can work well online by keeping conversations grounded in what matters most to the client. This approach helps when someone needs space to talk through feelings and decide next steps.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions. Online sessions can use this structure to spot unhelpful thoughts and try small behavior changes between appointments to see what helps in everyday life.

The Gottman Method offers concrete communication tools and exercises for relationship issues, which can be practiced and reviewed during remote sessions to improve how people talk and negotiate tension.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will help identify which methods match the client's goals, needs, and preferences, and will adjust the plan as progress is made. This is a collaborative process rather than a one-size-fits-all prescription.

The practical benefits of online therapy include fitting sessions into a busy week and reducing travel time so therapy is easier to keep. Some formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can let people try communication exercises, practice coping skills between meetings, and check in with shorter follow-ups when needed.