Holistic Jungian therapist specializing in trauma and relationships
I specialize in building relationships and personal growth: I help parents get more cooperation and compliance from their children with less energy so that the can enjoy each other; I help couples beat the odds to stay happily married; I help all kinds of creative people overcome barriers and roadblocks to fully express their artistic vision; and I help diverse individuals and families adjust to the inevitable and often difficult transitions we all face in life.
My most successful clients believe that positive change is possible, are hopeful about the future and are ready for change. They understand that true and lasting change comes from within and requires patience and persistence. They value our time together and trust our relationship enough to do the work (even when it gets hard) both in and between sessions. As long as you appreciate creativity, risk-taking and open, honest communication, attend sessions on time, do assigned homework and are willing to honestly describe what is and isn’t working, then I want to work with and help you.
I am dedicated to helping everyone I work with access and use their creativity to find and add the resources they need to the strengths that they have so that they can achieve their therapeutic goals as quickly as possible. When you’re ready for success, then I would be honored to help you find the solutions that work and make the changes that last so that you can live your very own ‘happily ever after’!
I began working with and helping people in 1980 as a preschool teacher. In 1981, while volunteering for the Child Abuse Prevention Effort, I found my second calling. From 1982 to 1986, I worked as a counselor at The Bridge (aka, The Therapeutic Center at Fox Chase), a long-term rehab for teenage substance abusers. After obtaining my master’s degree in counseling psychology, I served as the primary counselor and coordinator for Cape Counseling Services Family-Adolescent Alcohol Program providing individual, group and family counseling to children, teenagers and families from 1986-1990. As a program manager at Family Service Association between 1990 and 2014, I trained and supervised over 30 in-home counselors working with families in which children were at risk of out-of-home placement (usually due to abusive or neglectful parenting, but often due to teenage non-compliance and acting out behavior), a less intensive in-home parenting education program as well as three juvenile diversion programs. Since then, while building my private practice, I have provided individual, group and family counseling at a short-term rehab for adults with addictive disease, at a for-profit community agency, and in a federally qualified health center. In my various roles as teacher, counselor, coach, program manager and clinical supervisor, I have helped thousands of people change their lives for the better.
My vision is of a world full of kind, loving, compassionate people who live and work peacefully together to provide abundance for all. My purpose is to help people learn, grow and make new and better choices to improve their lives and their relationships so that they live as long, healthy, happy, loving, connected and meaningful lives as possible. My mission is to use my “signature strengths” of creativity, optimism and knowledge, and research-tested methods, to encourage and foster the personal, relational and spiritual growth and change needed to make those changes possible.
Licensed · Professional · Cancel Anytime
Michael Michnya focuses on relationship-building and personal growth, guiding parents, couples, creative people and families through change. He helps parents gain greater cooperation and compliance from their children with less effort so families can enjoy one another. He works with couples to increase their chances of staying happily married. He supports creative clients in overcoming barriers and roadblocks that limit full artistic expression, and he assists diverse individuals and families as they navigate the inevitable and often difficult transitions life brings.
His most successful clients are hopeful about the future, believe positive change is possible and are ready to do the work required. They understand that lasting change comes from within and takes patience and persistence. These clients value their time in session, trust the therapeutic relationship enough to engage even when it becomes difficult, and follow through on work both during and between sessions. Michael looks to collaborate with people who appreciate creativity, risk-taking and direct, honest communication, attend sessions punctually, complete assigned homework and openly describe what is and is not working.
Michael brings 39 years of experience to his practice and is a licensed professional counselor in New Jersey – license number 37PC00214700. His clinical journey began in 1980 as a preschool teacher and led him to volunteer work with the Child Abuse Prevention Effort in 1981. From 1982 to 1986 he served as a counselor at The Bridge, a long-term rehabilitation program for teenage substance abusers. After earning a master’s degree in counseling psychology, he was primary counselor and coordinator for the Cape Counseling Services Family-Adolescent Alcohol Program, providing individual, group and family counseling to children, teenagers and families from 1986 to 1990.
Between 1990 and 2014 Michael worked as a program manager at the Family Service Association, where he trained and supervised more than 30 in-home counselors who served families with children at risk of out-of-home placement. His oversight included a less intensive in-home parenting education program and three juvenile diversion programs. While building a private practice after 2014, he continued providing individual, group and family counseling at a short-term rehabilitation program for adults with addictive disease, at a for-profit community agency and in a federally qualified health center. Across roles as teacher, counselor, coach, program manager and clinical supervisor, Michael has helped thousands of people change their lives for the better.
His vision is of a world populated by kind, loving and compassionate people who live and work together to provide abundance for all. His purpose is to help people learn, grow and make new, better choices that strengthen their lives and relationships so they can live long, healthy, happy, connected and meaningful lives. Michael’s mission uses his signature strengths of creativity, optimism and knowledge, together with research-tested methods, to encourage the personal, relational and spiritual growth that supports durable change.
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