Mike Spitz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Los Angeles, CA who works with clients experiencing mild to more moderate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. Many of his clients are having difficulties at home, at work, with friends, family and relationships. Others may be parents who feel frustrated and at their wits' end, and unsure of what to do to resolve family stressors. Others are young professionals and persons in the arts who are struggling with day-to-day issues.
Mike helps a variety of clients, including adults, parents, children and teenagers, and young professionals in the arts. Currently, he is a therapist for the Department of Mental Health in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry at Harbor/UCLA Medical Center where he works with children & teenagers. In his private practice, he works more with young professionals; many are in their 20’s and 30’s and work in a variety of professions, including the arts.
Mike understands that finding a balance between making a living and staying true to your more personal endeavors can be a challenge. He knows it can lead to confusion about where you are at this point in your life and where to go from here. His approach is primarily client-centered and psychodynamic, exploring thoughts, feelings, and problems on a more internal and psychological level. He finds that this approach of going deeper has a longer lasting impact while still clearing up the more overt symptom behaviors. Mike tends to have a more direct approach, often utilizing evidenced-based treatments such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Family Focused Treatment (FFT), typically used with Bipolar/Mood disorders.
Mike's sense of humor and relaxed manner helps clients feel safe and comfortable. He has a background in theater, film, writing and photography. His personal experience in the arts helps him to be more empathic, self-aware and creative as a therapist. Outside of private practice, Michael has been featured as a mental health expert in multiple local publications on how to create a new normal in a post-Covid world. He invites you to contact him for a consultation.
Anxiety - Coping with excessive worry, nervousness, or stress; intense discomfort in social settings (social anxiety); sudden and intense feelings of panic (panic disorder)
Depression - Providing support and promoting healing of hopelessness, low motivation and energy, sadness, irritability, sleep disturbance, and loss of interest and pleasure in life
Child mental health - Specialized strategies for common childhood disorders including attention issues, attachment problems, behavioral disorders, learning disorders, autism spectrum diagnoses, and feeding or elimination issues
Adolescent mental health - Working with adolescents, teenagers, and parents on social, academic, and/or emotional challenges throughout teenage years; addressing anxiety, family conflicts, peer relationships, school stress, transition to college, social media pressures, self-esteem, hopelessness about the future, emotional dysregulation
Bipolar disorder - Developing coping and preventive strategies to stabilize extreme mood swings, including manic and depressive episodes; increasing effective strategies to regulate emotions and maintain a healthy daily routine
Mood disorders - Depression, dysthymia (mild depression), bipolar disorder, hormone-related mood issues, i.e. Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and postpartum depression, adjustment disorder with depression
ADHD - Skill-building and support around organizational challenges, distracted attention, procrastination; building and maintaining healthy routines and structure
Autism spectrum disorder - Support understanding the diagnosis and related challenges and strengths; skill-building in areas of daily routine, transitions, coping with overwhelming sensory experiences, social skills, and emotion identification and regulation
Oppositional/defiant disorder (ODD) - Treatment and guidance for managing ODD, a child behavioral disorder indicated by prominent defiance and disobedience with authority figures. Includes skills to manage problematic behaviors and improve family relationships
Michael Spitz is not in-network with any insurances.
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Frequency of sessions this provider offers to see clients once you are an established client.
Private Practice
Harbor UCLA Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Loyola University Chicago, MSW
New York University, BFA
English