It takes courage to connect for counseling and recovery from abuse, loss, trauma, or other adverse childhood experiences. Often these experiences can result in challenging maladaptive behaviors including substance use, aggression, self-injury, or suicidality in youth.

I believe that children and youth heal best in a family-focused relational modality addressing the problems to be solved for the youth and their caregivers too. Children who have experienced disruption in their relationships through the death of a parent or removal from their home can benefit from clarification and reconciliation to achieve safety, wellness, and long-term stability.

I am trained and certified in trauma treatment, adolescent substance abuse treatment, and am an adoption competent mental health clinician who has been working with at-risk youth for twenty-eight years. I look forward to working with youth and their families on treatment goals that reflect voice and choice in treatment, and promoting skills development for their enhanced resiliency, development and growth.

 Special Areas of Interest​

  • Depression

  • Anxiety

  • Posttraumatic Stress

  • Family and Parenting Issues (adoption, foster care, and custodial placement)

  • Self-injury and suicidality

  • Adolescent substance use

  • Problem solving and goal setting

  • Men’s Issues

  • Life transitions

 Education & Credentials

  • Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counseling and Psychological Studies

  • Master of Arts (MA) in Professional Counseling

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee

  • National Certified Counselor (NCC) Board Certified

  • Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) Certified

  • Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA) Certified

  • Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) Certificate Recipient

 Professional Affiliations

  • American Association of Suicidology (AAS) Professional Career Suicidologist

  • American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) Member

  • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Board Member Mississippi Chapter

  • Family-Focused Treatment Association (FFTA) National Board Member (2018-2023)

  • Partner at Vertical Church

General Information

Mike and his wife Rhonda live in Canton, Mississippi where they have three daughters and two dogs. They enjoy traveling, walking, cooking, and spending time together with friends and family.

Michael Stempkovski, PhD, LPC, NCC