- Family of origin issues
- Parenting and fatherhood
- CBT and EFT methods
About Michael
Rev. Michael Abell is an LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) practicing in Pennsylvania with 11 years of counseling experience. He combines years in pastoral ministry with clinical work to address stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, family and parenting challenges, addiction, grief, depression, ADHD, and related issues. He also lists focused work around blended family issues, fatherhood, forgiveness, young adult matters, and family of origin issues.
He draws on hands-on experience from ministry and counseling to talk through everyday problems. Sessions are conversational and practical. He leans on approaches that help people identify patterns and try small changes that can make daily life easier.
In the room he uses Client-Centered methods to follow what matters most to the person. He also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to notice and change unhelpful thinking and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to address closeness and emotional patterns. Solution-Focused techniques are used for setting short-term goals and tracking progress.
He works with people from many faith backgrounds and those with no faith background. He frames clients as the expert on their own life and focuses on using their strengths to move toward their goals. Sessions emphasize clear steps and practical coping strategies people can use between meetings.
Practical concerns such as parenting stress, blended family tensions, or patterns from one’s family of origin are addressed directly. Conversation, homework-style practice, and goal setting are common tools he uses to help people make measurable change.
How his approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on following what matters most to the person. The therapist listens and reflects so the client can clarify priorities and choose next steps, which is useful for relationship and family concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify thought patterns and test small behavior changes; it is often chosen for anxiety, depression, ADHD challenges, and coping strategies. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) looks at emotional responses and patterns in close relationships to help people change how they connect and respond to one another.Choosing the right approach is often part of the early work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, what has helped before, and what feels workable. Together they decide whether to emphasize CBT tools, emotionally-focused work on connection, or practical solution-focused steps for short-term problems.
Session formats are not specified here, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people find that using structured homework and brief practice between sessions works well when meeting remotely. The therapist will help plan how sessions and between-session work fit into everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
Pennsylvania
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he work with?
He works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family matters, parenting, addiction, grief, depression, ADHD, and related issues including blended family and fatherhood concerns.
What is his therapy style?
He uses conversational, practical sessions that focus on identifying patterns and trying specific changes between meetings.
How much experience does he have?
He has 11 years of counseling experience and a background in pastoral ministry going back over two decades.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Pennsylvania.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the U.S. work with him?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions billed?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.