Michael Sargent

Therapy Approach

My approach to therapy is person-centered and collaborative. You are the expert on your life and we will work together to identify and move treatment in a direction aligned with your personal values and goals.

I conduct initial assessments through a psychodynamic lens, considering a person’s personal and family history as a part of their unique narrative. From there, we can choose an appropriate evidence-based treatment modality together. Some approaches we might consider include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS).

You can expect me to listen actively to you without judgment and collaborate with you to move you toward meaningful change as you define it. As a relational therapist, I believe that the therapeutic relationship isn’t just a relationship between a therapist and a patient, but between THIS therapist and THIS patient. The working therapeutic relationship is of particular importance to me, getting to meet you where you are at and identify and pursue the things that have worked for you in the past and also those things that no longer seem useful or helpful. This is true not just at the beginning of care, these changes occur throughout the therapeutic relationship. As your needs evolve, I will change my approach to provide you with the best possible experience.

Entering into therapy is not easy, and I commend the courage and wherewithal to begin the journey toward wellness and balance. I look forward to exploring and navigating your journey with you.

Approaches I Use

Get to Know Michael

I began my career in the mental health field 15 years ago in Seattle, working closely with people who were experiencing severe and chronic mental health concerns such as suicidal ideation, severe depression and anxiety, and severe schizophrenia. Nearly 10 years ago I moved to Massachusetts where I introduced clinical programming into Western MA shelters for individuals and families, addressing a wide range of needs from anxiety to complex trauma. From there I moved on to working in a private addiction treatment facility and provided intensive individual and family treatment.

I have developed programming and trainings for agencies around family therapy, trauma informed care, and clinical development for MSW candidates.