Welcome!

I provide counseling services to adults, adolescents,and preteens using individual and family counseling.

Counseling for individuals address the following conditions: depression; bipolar disorder (in conjunction with a psychiatrist); trauma and grief; disruptive behavior including anger problems; substance abuse; and work/professional challenges

I use a variety of techniques including interpersonal, cognitive, and existential psychotherapy. Effective counseling results from a positive working alliance between counselor and client. That is something I attend to with your feedback as a critical element.

It is important to work in collaboration with other involved professionals. I work psychiatrists regularly. I am always willing to meet new professionals who will work with me and communicate for your benefit.

I offer a concierge level of client service without the add-on charges,

A positive working alliance is the key to successful therapy.

Get started

If you have a pressing or urgent need for an appointment, I will contact you just as soon as possible on the day you reach out. I will see you on the same day or the next calendar day in person or on Zoom. I want to hear from you and I encourage you to follow up by text, phone, or email to confirm that I received your message.

I do. High quality service to clients is my job description.

My assessment effort on your behalf includes our meetings, proven objective measures, anonymous consultation if needed, and research on your symptoms and issues.

The foundation of the entire effort and working alliance is mutual trust.

I strongly encourage direct and frank client feedback

Hard work, availability, understanding, honesty, and effectiveness.

About Michael Greelis PhD

Licensed Professional Counselor

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist

As a dedicated professional with 30 years of experience in private practice, I know that a strong working alliance is the key to effective therapy. Specific techniques are important. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), existential psychotherapy, and other techniques work best with the foundation of a strong working alliance.

Symptoms and Issues

Symptoms are typically what get people to therapy. For example major and persistent depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and bipolar disorder.

Issues include family conflict, career and workplace challenges, separation and divorce, parent-child estrangement, parent-adult child estrangement, anger management and other major life events.

Unresolved troubling issues may cause symptoms, and symptoms almost always make issues worse.

A vital first step in effective therapy is focusing on those symptoms and issues that will have the most impact on relieving stress and distress. That process will determine the treatment plan and techniques employed.

Individual Adult Counseling

Adults seeking help for depression, mood regulation, anger problems, and anxiety often benefit by addressing and managing their symptoms and issues.

Adults also benefit greatly from identifying the source and structure of challenges that occur over-and-over in their lives. Why do work and personal relationships come undone in similar ways so frequently?

Individual counseling offers an eye-opening and exciting path that provides a major upgrade in your quality of life.

The goals are proper identification of symptoms and issues and action to address those issues. The odds on success increase greatly when you and I have strong working alliance.

Adolescent & Family Counseling

Being a teenager in Northern Virginia can be challenging in the extreme. Teen are exposed to the dangers of drugs and alcohol, sexual violence, or bullying. Their lives can be complicated by grinding perfectionism or they may simply give up because they are just average. Divorce is a major source of turmoil. And loss of a parent, grandparent, or very close friend is often devastating.

Counseling can help teens cope with these challenges, put their problems in perspective, and identify developing life skills to chart a recovery and positive direction.

In addition to issues, the major behavioral disorders start in the teen years. These include major depression, persistent depression (dysthymia), mood regulation disorders, and various anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD. Early identification of at-risk teens and help for their families has immediate and lifelong benefits.

Family therapy insures parental involvement that can reduce conflict and maximize family cohesion.

Education & Experience

Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Virginia since 1996
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Virginia since 1998
Approved Clinical Supervisor, National Board of Certified Counselors 2004
PhD George Mason University, Human Growth & Development, GMU Graduate School of Education
Adjunct Faculty, George Mason University, Graduate School of Education, 1995-2000
- Courses taught: Introduction to Psychotherapy; Advanced Techniques in Psychotherapy; Human Growth and Development; Personality Disorders
Conducted one of the first in-depth 180 practitioner surveys on the benefits and drawbacks of teletherapy.
Collaborative working relationships with select area psychiatrists and therapists.
Successful, highly active private practice for 28 years in Northern Virginia.
Licenses: M.Greelis LPC, LMFT

Fraud and Character: TThe Psychology and Motivations of White-Collar Criminals, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) 2018 Certified Fraud Examiners 2018

Successful therapy relies on a positive, collaborative working alliance

Welcome!

A positive working alliance is the key to successful therapy.

Does my counselor provide rapid contact for urgent situations or am I told to make an appointment days out?

Does my counselor show a real interest in my concerns?

Does my counselor use multiple methods to assess and treat my symptoms and issues?

Do I believe and trust my counselor, and can he/ or she believe me and trust me?

Does my counselor encourage me to speak up (aka complain) if I have any concerns or problems with him or her?

What makes a highly effective and positive therapeutic relationship and working alliance?