Michael Johnnson

Michael Johnnson is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Wisconsin with four decades of experience. He focuses on practical help for people facing anger, stress, anxiety, depression, relationship troubles, and life transitions. He aims for clear, usable plans so clients know what each step is for and what to expect.

He believes the client guides the work. Sessions can be brief and solution-focused when that fits, or go deeper when the issues need more time. He listens for what matters most and then shapes a plan that fits each person’s history and goals.

Michael draws on a range of approaches including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy. He explains each technique in everyday language and connects methods to the real problems people bring to sessions, such as anger, addiction recovery, grief, or caregiver stress.

He brings life experience to his practice - marriage and divorce, blended and inter-racial family dynamics, non-binary family members, vocational changes, addiction recovery, and ADHD. He can integrate a Christian perspective when requested and treats that preference as one part of a collaborative plan.

Michael emphasizes partnership in forming goals and plans. He makes sure clients understand the purpose and desired outcome of each element of the work. People who want straightforward, experienced guidance and clear next steps often find his style helpful.

How Michael’s approaches fit into online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and take values-based actions. It can be useful for anger, anxiety, and changes that require new ways of responding. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and empathy so people feel understood before making changes. This approach supports work on relationship issues, self-esteem, and grief. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at patterns of thinking and behavior and teaches practical skills to change them, which can help with anger, anxiety, and depression.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Michael will work with each person to choose methods that match their goals, history, and preferences. That choice is collaborative and can shift as progress is made or needs change.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the available session formats before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when schedules demand it. It can also let someone use video or audio only depending on what feels most comfortable. Discussing how sessions will run is part of the initial scheduling and matching process so practical arrangements match your day-to-day needs.