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.

This year, I celebrate my seventy-first birthday. I am grateful that I can bring seven decades of life experience to my work.

Before I became a psychotherapist, I worked as a hospice grief counselor, preschool teacher, intern for “Sesame Street” and professional musician. I lived and worked for many years outside of the United States (Egypt, Denmark, Italy, France, Spain and Great Britain).

I love my work and hope to keep practicing until my last days here on earth. 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
  • Where Psychology Meets Spirituality: a fascinating place of exploration and personal growth

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 –