Michael Gerardo, LCSW
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas Christian University (TCU) and my Master of Social Work from the University of Arkansas – Fayetteville. My work is grounded in Logotherapy, which focuses on helping people find meaning and purpose, even during their most difficult seasons. I also integrate evidence-based approaches including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). Additionally, I am a Certified Specialist in Anger Management.
My Story
You may be used to pushing through, handling things on your own, or keeping it together even when something underneath doesn’t feel right. Trauma, substance use, anxiety, sleep problems, anger, or years of operating in survival mode can eventually start affecting your relationships, work, and sense of who you are.
I have a particular passion for working with veterans, first responders, and adults struggling with trauma and substance use. These experiences can be difficult to explain to someone who hasn’t lived in a world where staying alert, staying strong, or shutting things down emotionally may have once been necessary. Therapy with me is a place where we can talk honestly about what is happening without judgment or assumptions.
My style is collaborative, practical, and direct. I’m not here to tell you how you should feel or pressure you into changing before you’re ready. I want to understand the experiences that shaped you, identify the patterns that may no longer be serving you, and help you build tools that make sense for your actual life.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing. Whether you are processing trauma, questioning your relationship with substances, struggling to sleep, feeling disconnected from the people around you, or trying to figure out what comes next, we’ll start with where you are and work from there.
Veterans, First Responders & High-Stress Professionals
Support for people whose work or life experiences require them to stay alert, make difficult decisions, and carry responsibilities that others may not fully understand.
Anger & Emotional Regulation
For clients who feel easily irritated, shut down, react more strongly than they want to, or notice anger affecting their relationships, work, or sense of control.
Trauma & Difficult Experiences
Support for experiences that continue to show up through hypervigilance, avoidance, numbness, irritability, sleep problems, or feeling disconnected from yourself or others.
Substance Use & Unhealthy Coping
A nonjudgmental space to look at alcohol, substances, or other coping strategies that may have helped you get through difficult periods but are now creating problems of their own.