J. Michael Blackston (Test)
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
For nearly twenty years I have been counseling individuals and couples who know the pain of disconnection with themselves or each other and want to change that. The source of this disconnection varies. Maybe it's an affair or the busy demands of life that have created distance in a relationship. It could be an active addiction, work stressors or an untreated mental health issue like anxiety or depression that has left a person feeling alone and without purpose. The disconnection may stem from the effects of unprocessed trauma and attachment ruptures in the past that shape the way a person feels or acts today.
The counseling room offers a safe space to recover (or discover) a meaningful connection with self and others. I know because I've experienced it firsthand. As someone who regularly sits on the other side of the chair, I have gained an understanding of how the pain in my own story resulted in coping strategies that were disconnecting me from myself and those I love. Better yet, I gained a roadmap for transformation that involved both truth and connection. My work with individuals and couples blends together attachment theory and story work, somatic and interpersonal neurobiology, spirituality and 12 step recovery. I offer hourly sessions or intensive packages for more concentrated focus.
My wife Rachel and I started Redeemer Counseling in 2011. Her feminine wisdom and strength alongside her knack for playfulness and spontaneity are daily reminders to me that there is a good God. I have the wild, amazing adventure of raising three daughters. I love traveling to see a new Broadway show in New York City or encountering a grizzly bear at Glacier National Park, reading, and playing 2x2 basketball on the driveway with my girls.
Area of Specialization
My specialities include story work, trauma and abuse recovery, couples counseling, and sexual addiction and recovery. I also enjoy doing deeper shadow work with men to help them acknowledge and integrate disowned and destructive thoughts, feelings, attitudes, motivations and behaviors that cause harm to themselves and their relationships.
Philosophy and Approach
My work with individuals and couples blends together attachment and story work, somatic and interpersonal neurobiology, spirituality and 12 step recovery. I offer either hourly sessions or intensive packages for more concentrated focus.
Education Background
Master's of Arts in Counseling at Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando.
Professional Memberships
American Association of Christian Counselors, New Life Ministries Counselor Network, Camaraderie Foundation Counselor
Certifications, Trainings, Workshops
Trauma-focused Narrative Therapy Advanced Counseling Certificate through The Allender Center, EMDR, Prepare-Enrich assessment for couples, Qualified Supervisor for interns pursuing licensure in the State of Florida.
