Michael Aranda

Michael Aranda is a licensed counselor who practices in Montana. He holds LCPC and LMFT credentials and has six years of experience helping people facing depression, anxiety, stress, anger, and relationship or intimacy concerns. He also supports clients dealing with trauma, grief, identity questions, and issues tied to addiction or sleep disruption.

Aranda aims to build an accepting, culturally responsive space where people feel heard. He works with LGBTQ+ individuals and with people who identify with military or first responder backgrounds, communities of color, and faith communities. He also supports those affected by domestic violence and those navigating separation or infidelity.

His clinical work uses clear, evidence-informed methods tailored to each person's needs. He draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address unhelpful thinking and Dialectical Behavior Therapy to strengthen emotion regulation skills. He also incorporates Trauma-Focused work and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing when trauma is central to a person's story.

Sessions are collaborative and paced to fit what a person can handle. Michael focuses on practical skills, clearer communication, and steps toward better sleep, steadier mood, or healthier boundaries. He pays attention to identity and context when shaping goals.

People who want straightforward, respectful help with anger, relationship strain, grief, or identity concerns may find his style calming and direct. To begin, readers are encouraged to follow the site booking flow and complete the short matching questionnaire before scheduling.

Approaches that translate to online work

Michael often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety and anger. This approach teaches concrete skills that people can practice between sessions to see steady changes.

He also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to help with emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal communication. Those skills can be taught in short, focused segments and practiced in daily life. For people whose difficulties come from past traumatic events, he incorporates Trauma-Focused work and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to process traumatic memories in a paced way.

Deciding which approach to use is part of the work. The therapist will review a person’s goals, history, and preferences and then recommend a way forward. That recommendation is checked in with the client as therapy progresses so methods can shift if needed.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm current session options before booking since formats are not specified here. Many people find online sessions easier to fit into a busy day, let them join from different locations, or allow for shorter check-ins when time is limited. These practical benefits can make it simpler to keep momentum between appointments.