Michael Medley, LPC

Michael is an AZ Board Certified Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor.  He is also the founder of Action Counseling, LLC and The Collective Practices of Arizona Counselors.  He holds a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy.  Additionally he has advanced trainings with the Gottman Method, Emotional Focused Therapy, sexual addictions, and EMDR for trauma recovery.

 

In the beginning of Michael’s career he spent several years working in residential treatment doing family therapy, individual counseling, and facilitating groups.  These early years led Michael to gain specialized training in working with sexual addictions and internet/pornography addictions.  Michael also previously facilitated groups with the LifeStar program for sexual addictions, running Phase 2 and Phase 3 groups.  Michael understands how many addictions start out as coping mechanisms, in an attempt to find calm or numb out. 

 

Michael uses several therapeutic approaches to help increase balance and connection in life. He relies on a non-judgmental counseling approach which will assist in developing the cognitive awareness and emotional openness necessary to resolve the trials faced in life, such as addictions, marital conflict, depression, anxiety, and traumas.  Michael has a special interest in teaching couples how to recognize and communicate intimate thoughts and feelings in a safe, healthy manner.  Utilizing the Gottman Method and Emotional Focused Therapy, Michael has been able to help many couples work through betrayals, illness, addiction, death, and many other challenges that life throws at us.  

 

Michael believes that one of the greatest blessings in life is being able to understand and overcome our personal shame.  Finding strength in vulnerability allows us to grow in ways not expected.  The above quote by Carl Jung is one of Michael’s favorites, because it highlights the opposites of human existence.  Every good person has a shadow, and it is through understanding and integrating the opposites that bring balance to life and mental health.