Therapist Spotlight

Therapist Spotlight: Mike Anton, Psy.D., LLP

Manton Ts

As a therapist at our Livonia location, what challenges do you specialize in treating?

I primarily specialize in working with individuals presenting with Anxiety and Depression and love working with people going through significant/difficult/impactful life transitions. I also very much enjoy working with couples.

What do you find is most important about your role as a therapist?

I think that the most important aspect of my role as a therapist is having the opportunity to be there for people in their time of need, especially if they have no one in their lives towards whom they feel they can turn without being judged. I love that my role always involves me being a neutral, unbiased and non-judgmental party in someone’s life because I know from personal experience about the importance of talking about subjects that are embarrassing, taboo or otherwise difficult to talk about to others. Lastly, I think it’s important just to be a resource that can help people in the way they need to be helped, however that may be, as I know I wouldn’t be where I am at in life if my previous therapists were not that resource for me.

In your opinion, how do you help people?

I like to think that I help people by meeting everyone where he or she is at in each session. I work hard to do my best to provide everyone with a comfortable, open and non-judgmental atmosphere in an effort to allow every client I see to be themselves when we’re together. I also think I help people by listening and responding to their individual needs. No one will ever come to see me and just get a “cookie cutter” treatment approach. Lastly, I help others by being open in sessions about myself and my history. I have had my own struggles with Depression and Severe Anxiety and I have become comfortable with talking about this when appropriate and not keeping myself so closed off simply because I’m the therapist. Part of this process is also being up front, honest and human! I tell everyone I work with that I am not perfect, I don’t know everything and this won’t change regardless of how many letters they put at the end of my name!

What is something that you wish people knew about your specialties, or about therapy in general?

I wish that people knew how beneficial therapy can be for everyone and how it is absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about…ever! I wish that they knew how many of us have sat in their chair and, on a personal note, that I wouldn’t be where I am at without having sought my own therapy in the past.

Can you describe an influential person or experience in your life?

One of the most influential people I have ever met in my life is someone I have been lucky enough to call my wife, Lyndsey. Not only is she the most intelligent and kind-hearted person I have ever known, but she has been influential to me in that she has taught me how to treat others. She has stood by my side through some amazing times as well as some very very difficult times and has never given up on me. This has helped me to realize that being there to support others is not always easy but can lead to huge benefits in both my own life and the lives of those around me.