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
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 –