Michael Dale Kimmel – San Diego Psychotherapist and Author

About Michael Dale Kimmel

I am a California-licensed psychotherapist (LCSW 20738).

With over twenty-five years of counseling experience, I bring warmth, practical insight and a healthy sense of humor to my practice.

Before I became a psychotherapist, I worked as a hospice grief counselor, adoptions social worker, intake coordinator for a group home and intern for “Sesame Street” and “The Electric Company”.

Since my early twenties, I’ve lived and worked for many years outside of the United States (Egypt, Denmark, Italy, France, Spain, Greece, The Netherlands, Great Britain and the former Yugoslavia and Soviet Union).

I love my private practice work and the groups that I periodically offer. To keep fresh, I limit the hours I practice, read widely and regularly attend new workshops/trainings.

As a psychotherapist, I use a variety of therapeutic modalities, including cognitive-behavioral, Gestalt, interpersonal, somatic-relational, psychodynamic and Internal Family Systems (IFS).

I strongly believe in the importance of building a solid therapeutic alliance with my clients, based on safety, trust and confidentiality.

I work well with motivated individuals and couples who are committed to their growth and development. I also enjoy facilitating workshops throughout the United States (for more on that, click on the “Workshops” tab at the top of this page).

I write the mental health column “Life Beyond Therapy” for both national and international periodicals.

Specialties

Individual (one-to-one) Therapy

  • Anxiety, Worry and Panic Attacks
  • Assertiveness training and Healthy Boundary-Setting
  • Working with Depression, Grief & Loss (I used to work for San Diego Hospice)
  • Healing from Abuse: Mental, Physical, Emotional and Sexual
  • Working through Family of Origin Issues: Breaking Cycles of Dysfunction and Being Free of Legacy Burdens
  • LGBTQ+ related concerns and challenges (e.g., coming out; internalized homophobia, finding your place in the queer community)
  • Monogamy, Polyamory and Other Non-Traditional Relationships: how to create the kind of relationship that’s right for you

Modalities

Internal Family Systems Therapy

Internal Family Systems is a powerfully transformative, evidence-based psychotherapy that helps people heal by accessing and loving their protective and wounded inner parts. Learn More »

Relationship Therapy

If you and your partner have drifted apart, are taking each other for granted, or are having the same arguments again-and-again, relationship therapy can make the difference between giving up and working through your obstacles. Learn More »

Bioenergetic Analysis

Bioenergetic Analysis is a highly effective, body-based psychotherapy that helps resolve emotional issues by engaging the wisdom of the body in a safe and caring relationship with a highly-trained therapist. Learn More »

I thought the fall would kill me – but it only made me real.
– Ocean Vuong –

All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson –

My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you.
– Audre Lourde –

It’s not too late. Time is not running out. The moment has arrived when you’re finally ready to change.
– Cheryl Strayed –

Seek respect, not attention. It lasts longer.
– Ziad Abdelnour –

We need, in every community, a group of angelic troublemakers.        – Bayard Rustin –

Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.
– Oscar Wilde –

If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.

– Orson Wells –