Michael David Wilhoit
Mental Health Counselor Associate
1200 6th Ave.Suite 2001
Seattle, WA 98101
Phone: 206-999-7525
Email: Email Michael David Wilhoit
Primary Focus: Child / Teen Counseling, Communication / Social Skills Counseling, Couples / Marriage Counseling, Family Counseling, Specialty Issues, Stress / Depression Counseling
Scope of Practice
-I truly enjoy working with children 5yrs. and older, adolescents, and families on issues pertaining but not limited to attachment, family systems, school issues, and peer relationships.
-Children often experience adjustment issues after experiencing trauma, or significant life change, leading to a need for therapeutic help.
-Adolescents experience a wide range of difficult life choices on a daily basis, including grades, friends, family expectations, gender roles, sexuality, etc. A professional relationship with a counselor may provide the connection that enables them to open up with friends and family.
-In working with children or adolescents, the family of origin, including issues of partnership or marriage, also becomes key areas of the work with a family. For this reason I also include couples’ counseling in my practice.
-I have 10 years experience working with children and adolescents in various settings including camps, wilderness trips, schools, and counseling.
-In addition, I also have experience in men’s issues related to life change, transitions, addictions, and physical disablement due to injury.
Range of Focus
- ADD / ADHD Issues
- Children's / Adolescent Therapy
- Multi-Racial Issues
- Physically Challenged Issues
- Stress Issues
- Autism/Attachment Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Parenting Skills
- Social Friendship Skills
Values and Philosophy
I believe that every person has the potential to be creative, purpose-filled, caring and generally happy in life. Unfortunately, there are often times or long seasons in life when these potentials are stifled or crushed due to crisis, trauma, monotony, unfulfilled dreams, significant life change, abuse, etc. Thus, one may choose to work with a professionally trained counselor out of a desire to be whole, to find healing, live more fully with oneself and family, or simply to be a more content person. Within a counseling relationship, a counselor and client create an environment together built of trust where healing and life change is cultivated, takes root, and begins to flourish in the rest of their lives. This process is unique for each individual/family with a counselor.
Therapeutic Technique and Methodology
Children- I use techniques of play therapy, art therapy, modeling, and role playing. Within these contexts, and a healthy, trust filled attachment with myself, I believe that children find the safety to work out issues of trauma, unrest, distrust, fear, etc. Engagement of the family in the process is essential, possibly including family sessions or couples counseling.
Adolescents- Depending on the age, my work with adolescents ranges from developmentally appropriate role playing, modeling, art therapy, and client centered talk therapy.
Adults- I use a relationship centered approach, which means that the client can experience life transformation as a healthy, relational connection is established in the counseling office. This connection can lead to an empowering counseling environment where one’s past, present, and future can be explored together. The goal of the relationship centered approach is for the client to gain confidence and to live this life transformation with family and friends outside the counseling office.
Education, Certification and Professional Associations
Degrees and Certifications
Masters of Counseling / Psychology
Mars Hill Graduate School
Seattle, WA
Counselor Training Institute
Camp Forest Springs, Westboro, Wisconsin
Westboro, WI
Licenses to Practice and Registrations
Licenses
Mental Health Counselor Associate
License number: MC 60150582
Payment Information and Hours
Please contact me for hours and rate information.
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