Michael Mcbrearty
Focused, practical therapy for real-life problems
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Experience
- 20 years
- Licensed in
- New Jersey, New York
- Languages
- English
- Format
- Online sessions
About Michael
Michael Mcbrearty is a licensed clinical social worker who offers straightforward, compassionate therapy. He uses clear, practical methods and keeps sessions warm and nonjudgmental. Parents looking for help with stress, family concerns, or life transitions will find a calm, steady presence.
Michael has two decades of experience and works from New Jersey as an LCSW. Michael blends cognitive-behavioral ideas with mindfulness and motivational interviewing. He helps people learn skills to manage strong emotions and change unhelpful thinking patterns.
Background and approach
Sessions often focus on concrete steps you can try between meetings, and on noticing what matters most in daily life. His style is accepting and respectful. Conversations are direct but gentle, aimed at reducing distress and improving day-to-day functioning.
He also supports people facing grief, addiction, relationship strain, and identity-related concerns. Michael holds a Master of Social Work from Rutgers University and is licensed as an LCSW in New Jersey. He is also licensed in New York as NY LCSW 081890 and holds NJ LCSW 44SC05958400.
That background informs a practical, recovery-oriented approach. Therapy often starts with small, manageable goals. He works with each person to set aims that fit their life and values.
If you want steady, experienced guidance through stress, mood struggles, or major life changes, he offers a clear path forward.
Practical therapy approaches for online care
Michael often uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in online work. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people clarify their values and take small committed steps toward them while learning to notice painful thoughts without getting stuck. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety or depression. He also draws on Client-Centered Therapy to keep the tone supportive and respectful. That approach centers the person in the work and creates space for honest conversation. Together, these methods let clients practice new skills while feeling heard and guided. Finding the right approach is part of the process. He works collaboratively to choose methods that match a person’s goals, preferences, and life situation. That means trying techniques, checking what helps, and adjusting the plan over time. Online formats make therapy easier to fit into a busy life. Video calls let conversations feel more like in-person sessions, while phone, live chat, and text-based messaging offer options for short check-ins or when leaving the house is difficult. These choices increase flexibility and help people keep consistent work toward their goals.Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.
Client-Centered Therapy
The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he address?
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How long has he practiced?
What credentials and location are on record?
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
Also works with
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 20 years
- Licensed
- New Jersey, New York
- Languages
- English
Next step
Talk to Michael
- Takes a few minutes
- Nothing to set up just to look
- Stop at any point