Rev. Michael Abell , LPC

Rev. Michael Abell is an ordained minister and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who also holds National Certified Counselor (NCC) recognition and an MA in Marriage and Family Therapy. He combines pastoral experience with formal clinical training to support individuals, couples, and families in Pennsylvania.

He has worked in pastoral ministry since January 2001 and brings that real-world experience into counseling. Married since June 2000, he and his wife are parents to five children whose ages range from 12 to 18, and his family life informs his understanding of parenting, blended family dynamics, and fatherhood issues.

Over the years he has provided counseling for a wide range of concerns, including parenting, premarital and marital issues, ADHD, depression, anxiety, gambling and substance use, legal and religious concerns, trauma and PTSD, grief and loss, and many other challenges. He has worked with clients from many backgrounds - people of various faiths and of no faith, straight and LGBTQIA individuals, children, teens, adults, parents, grandparents, and people in hospice and their families.

He approaches therapy from a perspective that values the client as the expert of their own life. He aims to help clients identify and use their strengths to move from their current circumstances toward their goals. In sessions he serves as supporter, encourager, and teammate, helping clients begin change in the therapy room and sustain it in everyday life.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Rev. Michael Abell integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and emotionally-focused therapy into his online practice. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy and collaboration, helping clients explore their values and build on their own strengths to face life transitions and relational challenges. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and developing practical skills to reduce anxiety, manage depression, and improve daily functioning. Emotionally-focused therapy helps partners and family members understand and shift emotional responses to strengthen connection and repair attachment-related difficulties.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Rev. Michael Abell works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. He draws on different techniques as appropriate and adjusts the plan together with each client to support meaningful progress.

Online therapy with Rev. Michael Abell offers flexible ways to engage - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - so clients can choose the format that fits their schedule and comfort level. These options make it easier to maintain consistency, access care from home, and integrate therapeutic work into everyday life.