My name is Micah
Hi There,
My pronouns are he and him.
I am so glad you are here.
Traditional talk therapy did not work for me. I found myself spinning my wheels, talking about the same things over and over again. My therapist would tell me “just try thinking about it a different way”.
I have ADHD and various learning disabilities. I struggled to maintain emotional regulation throughout my youth, teens, and early college years. This created distress in my family and impacted my own health and well-being. I stuffed down many of my emotional challenges, and they began showing up as physical health ailments.
I was struggling to cope with the natural ups and downs of life, let alone my mounting number of mysterious health challenges.
Then, I started working with a therapist who showed me how to tap on acupressure meridian points to regulate my nervous system and process strong emotions. I slowly began learning how to regulate my nervous system through EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) tapping. This helped to empower me to process and neutralize difficult experiences and beliefs until they no longer bothered me.
Over time, I realized I had been living in a “survival” state, seeing threats all around me that were not there. This caused me to live in my amygdala and limbic brain - areas of fear-based brain reactivity - losing touch with my “rational thinking” brain and intuition and contributing to my health challenges.
The more I regulated my nervous system, the more I found my way back to calm, the more my emotional and physical symptoms lessened. Working with other energy-based therapists taught memore, and my healing deepened. I am filled with gratitude and optimism with the healing potential of holistic healing approaches.
As the years progressed, I wholeheartedly embraced these approaches, and focused my own time and attention on learning and implementing body-based, energy-system focused ways to support others in regulating and healing.
I am passionate about assisting any adults with trauma, and especially adults with ADHD engage in deep healing work to achieve powerful and transformative changes. I enjoy working with clients navigating co-occurring mental and physical health challenges.
Healing is possible, but can take time. Holistic approaches augment the healing process.
Micah also works with adults as an ADHD coach at Pathways Ahead.
-
I work from a nervous-system regulation and brain-based framework. This includes somatic experiencing, polyvagal theory, and mindfulness approaches. I integrate neuroscience, including concepts and experiences of neuroplasticity, into many of my sessions by way of psychoeducation and employing the principals we know help people heal and rewire their brains effectively and efficiently. The brain and body have infinite wisdom, and healing can be maximized when we provide the necessary conditions to support that process.
I am passionate about identifying root cause issues and seeking to help clients process or “unstick” these to free up present day energy for a life of greater ease and peace.
As a trauma therapist, I work from an integrative approach using somatic (body) techniques and modalities to help clients enhance nervous system and overall emotional regulation. In sessions, I utilize evidenced-based Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) (also known as "tapping"), Brain-spotting, and other Energy Psychology techniques. These techniques allow us to alleviate distress rapidly, enhance emotional homeostasis, and implement lasting psychological healing. I work with any adults having a trauma history, and I specialize in working with clients at the intersection of trauma and ADHD.
I seek to actively empower clients with tools that can be readily applied throughout the week, outside of and between our sessions, to maintain emotional regulation.
I am motivated and energized when I see clients achieving lasting changes in their thought patterns, self concept, and views about the world.
-
I work with adults (18+) who have experienced trauma, and adults with ADHD and neurodivergence who have experienced marginalization, low self-esteem/self-efficacy, masking of the authentic self, shame, stigma, and/or traumas (including complex post-traumatic stress) that have impacted their self-concept. I work virtually using secure video conferencing so you can relax in your own space while we work together.
-
I actively strive to cultivate a warm, empathetic, safe, and open environment when working with clients. Many clients report feeling safe and comfortable in opening up as we work on healing.
-
A first session involves getting to know each other, developing a "working alliance", identifying strengths, and exploring areas for growth and healing. I enjoy co-developing an individualized plan with each client and then hitting the ground running. Sometimes, body-, brain-, and energy-focused approaches can even help clients find relief from bothersome symptoms quickly.
Qualifications
Micah is an experienced therapist, and deeply involved in multiple areas in the world of coaching and ADHD. Micah prioritizes training and continuing education, valuing lifelong learning. Please see below for examples.
-
Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical (LCSW-C), Maryland
National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC)
Certified Advanced Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Practitioner
Certified Laughter Yoga Leader (CLYL)
-
Masters of Social Work (MSW), 2020, University of Maryland School of Social Work, Clinical Track.
Specialization: Behavioral Health
Sub-Specialization: Employee Assistance Program (EAP). 4.25/4.0 GPA.
Bachelor of Science (BS), Psychology, 2017, Towson University (Dean’s List), Clinical Psychology Area of Focus Program
-
Certified Health and Well-being Coach (CHWC), 2022, Wellcoaches School of Coaching (8-month training program)
Lifestyle Medicine for Coaches by American Academy of Lifestyle Medicine and Wellcoaches (21.5 hour self-paced course)
Positive Psychology and ADHD Coaching, MentorCoach (13 hours instruction)
Positive Psychology and Advanced ADHD Coaching Master Class - College Students, Teens, Children and Parents, MentorCoach (14.5 hours instruction)
Positive Psychology and Advanced ADHD Coaching: Adults, MentorCoach (14.5 hours instruction)
Emotional Freedom Techniques: Professional Skills 1 from Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) (15 hours)
Emotional Freedom Techniques: Professional Skills 2 from Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology (ACEP) (16 hours)
Brainspotting Phase 1 with Tracy Gantlin-Monroy, MDiv, LPC (21 hours)
Brainspotting Phase 2 with Tracy Gantlin-Monroy, MDiv, LPC (21 hours)
Ethics, Legal Issues, & Risk Management Strategies for EFT/Tapping Practitioners by Midge Murphy, JD, PhD (6 hours)
-
Researcher and author of numerous peer-reviewed publications on ADHD coaching
International presenter of research study findings at academic conferences such as:
American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD)
International Conference on ADHD
The Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance (CADDRA)
Co-Principal Investigator with Elizabeth Ahmann, ScD, RN, PCC, NBC-HWC on an Institute of Coaching (IOC) Coaching/ International Coaching Federation (ICF)Scientific Inquiry Research Grant exploring outcomes of ADHD coaching for adults.
Director of Springer Institute for Research
-
Excellent Poster Presentation Award (2018), ADHD and Sleep, NASW-MD Student Conference, University of Maryland-Baltimore County.