Ask the Therapist
The therapist will answer questions about the following disorders:
Bipolar Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Depression
Gender Identity Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder
Bipolar Disorder
Borderline Personality Disorder
Depression
Gender Identity Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Schizophrenia
Adolescent Issues
Substance Use/Abuse
Eating Disorders
Panic Disorders
Generalized Anxiety
Relationship Issues
Marriage and Family Systems
He is "gay/bi friendly".
And Also has a broad-based knowledge of cults, gang-related behavior, goth culture and witchcraft.
About the Therapist:
Michael J. Formica is a three time National Board Certified, Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist holding degrees in Psychology, Theology and Philosophy, as well as advanced degrees in Psychology, Psychotherapy and Counseling, and Organizational Behavior from Columbia University. He is a Diplomate in both Forensic Psychology and Sports Psychology, and was recently acknowledged as a Diplomate Candidate in Clinical Psychotherapy by the American Psychotherapy Association. Mr. Formica
has a remarkable C.V. which can be viewed here.
Michael is Director of Clinical Services for Boys & Girls Village Day School, a satellite of Boys & Girls Village Youth & Family Services, Inc. in Milford CT. He is certified in Behavioral Motivation by Boys & Girls Town, USA and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) by Cornell University.
In addition to his private practice, Michael’s professional experience includes faculty positions at a number of colleges and universities, psychological and educational consultation to school districts in both Connecticut and New York, and advisory positions with the American Psychological Association, the National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian.
An overview of his approach...
This distinctly personalized psychotherapeutic interchange, focusing on adolescents, adults, couples and families, is based on Michael’s more than 20 years of clinical experience. The approach incorporates aspects of traditional Psychoanalysis, Analytical Psychology and Archetypal Psychology, complimented by various associated disciplines, to support personal transformation.
Clients are provided with the opportunity to explore issues related to adolescent and adult development and maturation, childhood and adult trauma, relationships, career, grief and loss, parenting and life transition through the use of traditional psychoanalytic psychotherapy, as well as a variety of complimentary techniques and modalities.
Michael’s highly individualized and personally tailored approach to psychotherapy integrates the many facets of personal transformation that support the evolution of the whole person. Clients will come to an understanding of their initial concerns, while also learning to develop consistent coping strategies and social skills supporting their continued personal growth.
If you, your child or family are struggling with puzzling relationships, emotional issues or life transitions, Michael can work with you to address these concerns and realize a healthier, more fulfilling and joyous life.
Michael is currently working on his first book "A Pebble in a Pond: Understanding and Living with the Borderline
Personality". We will announce here when it becomes available.
We get many questions regarding finding Drs and
Therapist in geographically specific areas. We have a list who treat the BPD.
For Connecticut try this database.
Other resources for all disorders are American Counseling Association,
and American Psychological Association.
For your local NAMI (National Alliance
for the Mentally Ill) chapter (excellent resources for family and
suffers).
Local resources to find Drs and Therapists include your
local County Mental Health Dept, Social Workers with either your local
Psych Hospital or Hospital Psych Dept. Most local Newspapers will either list
Support Groups either Daily or Weekly (note we have had complaints that
some local support groups are shams to sell the leaders herbal, magnetic
remedies and other quackery).
We are also getting many questions about so called online
"Personality Test". These are worthless. Absolutely everyone tested
comes off positive for a personality disorder(s). Only test administered by Professionals
such as the MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Index) have any validity.
We also get the question "What Medications are used to
treat a Specific Mental Illness?" You don't treat the disorder, you
treat the symptoms. Different mental illnesses affect people differently. So
treating the disorder whether or not a person has all the symptoms would be
foolish.
There are literally hundreds of psychotropic medications. They
affect everybody differently, sometimes unfavorably. The fact that we have many
medications to treat specific symptoms is good since we can find the specific
medication(s) best suited for the individual.
In
the course of answering letters. Specific books have named. These
pages contain the books that have been recommended on specific subjects.
