Michael T. Clifford, S.T.M.
Washington State Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Certified Pastoral Counselor: Fellow Level
Certified Gottman Institute Clinician and Instructor

Everett Office
2702 Rockefeller Ave.
Everett WA. 98201

Current Availability
Tuesdays and Thursdays, morning, afternoon and evening
Wednesday afternoon
Michael is only available for couple therapy

For additional information or to schedule an appointment, please call: 425.258.2955, ext. 2

Click here to email Michael Clifford.

Personal Information and Therapy Style: Michael has been a therapist with Lutheran Counseling Network since 1981. He has been in practice since 1974.

He has worked primarily with couples for the last seven years. He uses the scientifically-based methods developed by John Gottman, Ph.D., and the Emotion Focused Therapy developed by Sue Johnson, Ph.D. As a Pastoral Counselor and ordained Lutheran clergy person, Michael seeks to help clients integrate their faith life and their spirituality into the therapy where that is desired.

As a Gottman Certified Trainer, he has taught the Gottman method to advanced clinicians both nationally and internationally and serves as a training consultant for clinicians wishing to become certified in the Gottman method.

Theoretical Orientation and Approach to Counseling: The Gottman Method tm of couple’s therapy is based on Dr. John Gottman’s twenty-five years of research in what makes marriages succeed or fail. From this research, Gottman has created a therapy that emphasizes a nuts-and-bolts approach to improving marriages. Using this method, Michael helps his clients learn specific tools to build more fondness and admiration in marriage and to successfully manage conflicts, even with those issues that feel gridlocked. The overall process is positive and constructive.

As part of the assessment, couples are given written materials to fill-out that help Michael understand the strengths and weaknesses of the current marriage relationship. Then, working together with Michael, the clients define goals for counseling. Couples may also be given homework suggestions to do between the sessions that emphasize practice in using the communication methods that are taught. Termination of the therapy will most likely occur at a mutually agreed upon time when the couples’ therapeutic goals have been reached. Following termination, Michael then meets with couples once every six months for two years to help maintain progress and to prevent relapse.

Emotion Focused Therapy is a natural complement to the Gottman method. Through EFT, Michael helps clients surface and express the more tender feelings that couple’s frequently have difficulty saying to each other. The emphasis in this method is on creating an atmosphere of emotional safety in the sessions and then in the relationship. Both approaches assist couple’s in having difficult conversations without them spiraling into conflict and more hurt.