Michael Mcbrearty, LCSW
Licensed in New Jersey · 20 years in practice
Michael Mcbrearty is a licensed clinical social worker who offers a warm, straightforward approach to therapy.
License and registration
- LCSW, New Jersey
- 44SC05958400 · expires August 2026
- LCSW, New York
- 081890 · expires April 2028
- NPI
- 1790842946 · national provider identifier
- Years in practice
- 20
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.
About Michael
Michael Mcbrearty is a licensed clinical social worker who offers a warm, straightforward approach to therapy. He brings 20 years of experience and a calm presence to conversations about anxiety, depression, grief, and addiction. Michael aims to make sessions feel accepting and nonjudgmental so people can talk honestly about what’s hard right now.
He uses cognitive-behavioral ideas to help people spot unhelpful thinking and try new behaviors. He also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and Mindfulness Therapy to build awareness and reduce reactivity.
Background and approach
Motivational Interviewing helps when someone feels stuck or unsure about change. Michael trained at Rutgers University, earning a Master of Social Work degree, and holds LCSW licensure in New Jersey and New York. He has worked with people facing complex problems like trauma, co-occurring substance misuse, bipolar mood challenges, and caregiver stress.
His background includes credentialing in alcohol and substance abuse counseling in New York. Sessions focus on practical steps that fit everyday life. Conversations tend to be direct and compassionate, with clear goals and homework when it helps.
Michael emphasizes skills you can use between sessions to manage symptoms and cope with life changes. People come to him for help with relationships, intimacy concerns, career stress, eating issues, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. He supports exploration of abandonment and attachment issues, communication problems, and recovery from loss or separation.
If someone is ready to work toward change, he aims to provide steady support and practical tools.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Michael lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Anger management
- Depression
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- HIV / AIDS
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Michael names
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
How specific approaches translate to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters most to them and take small, meaningful steps toward those values. Online sessions can combine discussion and short exercises to reduce avoidance and build consistent action. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors. In a virtual session, Michael can guide thought records, behavioral experiments, and homework that fit daily routines. Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices that reduce reactivity and improve focus; these exercises work well in short video or audio-guided segments during or between sessions.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michael will collaborate with each person to see which methods fit their goals, comfort level, and life demands. That might mean mixing ACT, CBT, and mindfulness tools over several visits and adjusting based on what proves helpful.
Online formats offer practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions are useful when bandwidth is limited or a camera is not preferred. Live chat and text messaging let people check in between sessions, do brief skill practice, or send notes after a difficult day. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent while juggling work, caregiving, or health needs.
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Questions people ask
What concerns does Michael help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, ADHD, bipolar challenges, eating and self-esteem problems, and a range of family and life-change concerns.
What is his therapy style like?
His style is open, genuine, accepting and nonjudgmental, focusing on practical steps, clear goals, and supportive conversation.
How long has he been practicing?
He has 20 years of clinical experience working with people facing trauma, substance issues, caregiver stress, and other complex challenges.
What credentials and location are listed?
He holds a Master of Social Work and is a licensed clinical social worker - LCSW - with licensure in New Jersey and New York.
Which languages are supported and can he see international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. He does not accept international clients currently.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.
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