Mike Smukler, LMHC

By the time someone considers therapy, they've usually been carrying something quietly for a while. Not in crisis. Just paying attention to what's been hard to ignore. This is a place to slow down. To look at what's actually here, without rushing to change it. When we stop pushing, things often begin to move on their own. ~ Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. ~ The patterns that trouble us are usually old. They made sense once. Now they shape reactions that don't quite fit who we're becoming. Anger can be one of these. So can the quiet ways we shrink, push through, or hold ourselves at a distance. They settle in. They can also loosen. ~ Muddy water is best cleared by leaving it alone. ~ We meet these patterns with curiosity rather than judgment. We listen for what's underneath. As things settle, a clearer view emerges, including of the parts that have been waiting for attention. I think of this work less as fixing and more as accompanying. You're already finding your way. My role is to walk alongside, ask useful questions, stay steady when things shake, and help you trust what you already sense but haven't quite let yourself see. When we meet ourselves as we are, we tend to move through life more freely. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with nearly two decades of clinical experience across private practice, outpatient care, community programs, and interdisciplinary teams. I have also held supervisory and leadership roles, supporting clinicians and programs in developing ethical practice. If you'd like to talk about working together, feel free to reach out. A brief conversation can help us see whether it feels like the right fit. I offer telehealth sessions on Saturday mornings. FEES My practice is primarily private pay. Please contact me for current rates. I am in network with BlueCross BlueShield and can provide documentation for out of network reimbursement with other insurance plans. A limited number of reduced fee spaces are reserved for people who may benefit from this work but for whom the full fee would be difficult.