About Mikal

Hello and thank you for taking the time to browse through my website. My name is Mikal Sklaroff, LCMHC (Pronounced like “Michael”). I earned a Master’s of Clinical Psychology from The University of Hartford in 1998. I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (#5143) through the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors.

Finding the right therapist is sometimes difficult. Therapy starts with finding someone who matches your personality and developing a relationship with an individual that you can trust. I believe in learning about who you are, the complete picture, and helping you define and achieve the goals that are important to you. No judgment, just a safe place to work through things you would otherwise bottle up. I will challenge you to feel things, learn to choose better paths even when normally you might choose the same old thing that makes you feel stuck.

I connect well with all ages. I am the biggest kid in the room, teenagers feel respected and heard, and adults know they are understood. Flexible and fun, I meld humor with structure and sound reasoning with tough love into new foundations. I see myself as a highly energetic and enthusiastic person. I frequently interject humor and good will into my work.

I believe that change is possible for anyone who is willing to courageously examine their thoughts & feelings, work hard to carry out difficult tasks, and increasingly try to find goodness/forgiveness in themselves. I don’t sell advice or opinion. Opinions are like armpits- everyone’s got them, and they all stink. Some problems are so long-standing and so deeply personal, that even your most trusted supports cannot reasonably be able to take on such things without themselves becoming partial or biased.

Therapy at its best is the most highly personal journey you can take. It works because I am not emotionally compromised or have any agenda but to give you the most sound support, direction, and insight possible. I attempt to impart the skills that I myself employ in my life. I also recognize that you already have tools and skills that are available, but may not be using them in the most efficient, effective, or consistent manner.

25 plus years later, I am proud to be in private practice and doing my best work of my career. I love working with people and I believe that measure of joy translates into the way I relate to the people I am privileged to meet and treat.

Among the problems I regularly work with and am qualified to treat:

– Depression
– Bereavement
– Anxiety, Panic, Social anxiety, and shyness
– Problems with Self-esteem
– Problems controlling anger
– Behavior problems
– Oppositional & Defiant Behavior
– Recovery from Abuse, Neglect, Domestic Violence, Sexual Abuse/Assault
– Trauma Recovery
– Asperger’s/Autism Spectrum Disorder
– Dealing with a loved one who has Alcohol or Drug abuse and dependence
– Self-defeating relationship patterns & Relationship problems
– Social Skills
– Anger and Stress
– Work & School Stress
– Attention Deficit & Hyperactivity

I tell everyone I meet for the first session to expect the unexpected. I will say and do things to make you feel in the room. Oftentimes, we use a defense called “Intellectualization”. To protect ourselves from feeling or thinking things that are unpleasant, we tell our experiences in story form, devoid of the actual emotions. I believe that when you are unsure of why I’m doing or saying something, or you are feeling something strongly, that bringing it up is essential. I’m not trying to be disrespectful or hurtful. It’s the actual awareness of your feelings and dealing with them right then and there that is so key to growth in therapy. A critical way towards change is to bring up a situation where you are dealing with the challenges/issues you’re working on and with practice be able to make alternative choices towards a better outcome. That is to say, ”Feel the fear and do it anyway.”

Lastly, I want to stress that therapy is good for all people (counselors included). It is not instant results…It may take more time than you envisioned to make the progress you imagined. It is worth it to stick it through until you are healthier. If you meet with me and determine that we are not a good fit, let’s talk about what we could do to better tailor your experience.  If it’s not working I will help you find another provider. Please do not give up on the institution of therapy. I am one of many talented practitioners in the area. I cannot be anything but myself and that may mean I’m not your person. Counseling is a process, and one that is worthwhile finding the right combination of helper and style that works for you.