Michael Denson

Michael is a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, as well as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Over his long career working with children, adolescents, and adults, Michael is focused on building self-esteem and creating a sense of empowerment in each person with whom he works.

Michael has many years of experience in the mental health and social services field, including foster parenting, long-term residential care (child/adolescent), care/case management, emergency shelter care (child/adolescent), employee assistance services, and private practice. In doing individual, group, and family therapy, Michael has over 35 years of direct counseling experience relating to individual group and family therapy. He has additionally worked at length with chemical dependency/substance abuse issues and was, for a time, a licensed chemical dependency counselor (LCDC) in the state of Texas.

Michael and his wife have two children and three beautiful granddaughters. He is a member of a local Church of Christ. He has been involved in some brief mission opportunities in the past, including trips to Hungary, Germany, Austria, and Croatia. He has also gone on several trips into Mexico with youth groups for Vacation Bible School and assisted people in the area with home repair. He has experience with children’s worship programs to specifically include puppeteer work. Outside of counseling, Michael enjoys spending time with his family, listening to music, traveling, studying languages, and farm work.

Counseling Approach and Areas of Practice

Michael’s goal is to build confidence and affirmation of one’s self-worth and sense of self-respect. Every person who is counseled receives an initial clinical assessment, beginning with customized, personal goals for his or her unique situation. Michael’s objective is to ensure that each visit will be in a comfortable and safe setting during the course of counseling, where clients feel heard and supported.

He works with all ages through various modalities, including play therapy, games, crafts, and traditional counseling techniques. Children and adolescents are guided to develop effective techniques for navigating the issues and concerns that are encountered during the developmental and formative years. Similarly, adults are shown how to work through the various obstacles and difficulties – both internal and external – that are encountered throughout life.

Michael works with children and adolescents, as well as adults, couples, family groups, and adolescent group therapy. Michael has many years of experience working with those struggling with self-harm behaviors (i.e. cutting), depression, anxiety, physical/sexual abuse, and family violence. Additional areas of experience include counseling drug addiction, sexual addiction, alcoholism (abuse & dependency), codependency, and anger.

Education and Licensure

Education

  • Masters in Social Work – Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio, Texas)
  • B.A. in Bible – Oklahoma Christian University (Edmond, Oklahoma)

Licenses

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (since 1989)
  • Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (since 1993)
  • Certified Employee Assistance Professional (since 1998)
  • Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (1994-2004)

Associations

  • National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
  • Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA)

Experience

  • Las Colinas Counseling Center/Private Practice 2006-current
  • Children First Counseling Center in Grand Prairie 1998-2006
  • Alliance for Children in Tarrant County (child sexual abuse survivors) 2001-2006
  • Tarrant County Community Outreach (work with BIPP cases) 2003-2004
  • MHN, Inc. (Clinical Supervisor for Mental Health Care Management staff and EAP) 1991- 2011 While at MHN, also did Telephonic and Virtual Room Care Coaching with military veterans through the VA  2009-2011
  • HCA Hill Country Hospital San Antonio (Adult Process Group Facilitator)
  • San Marcos Treatment Center Brown Schools (Individual Therapist/Case Manager for adolescent clients)
  • Charter Hospital of Laredo - Program Therapist for Child and Adolescent Unit
  • San Antonio Children's Center (later called Southwest Neuropsychiatric Institute) Mental Health Tech.
  • Medina Children's Home (Medina, TX) Houseparent for children and adolescents
  • Cliffwood Church of Christ (Oak Cliff, TX) Part-time Education Minister for youth and adult
  • Christian Academy of Oak Cliff (TX) Senior High and Middle School Level Bible Teacher
  • In undergrad – led groups of volunteer college students on weekly support visits to the Oklahoma City Children's Emergency Shelter