Here, Now
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or like something’s quietly asking for your attention, you’re not alone. This is a space to pause, breathe, and begin turning toward what’s really happening inside — with honesty, compassion, and curiosity. There’s no right way to begin. Just showing up is enough.
WELCOME
I’m Mike Smukler, and I’m a licensed psychotherapist who helps people navigate anxiety, anger, grief, disconnection, and the quiet questions that tend to surface in life’s in-between spaces.
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I don’t believe you’re broken. I don’t believe you need to be fixed. I believe you’re a whole human being — complex, sensitive, and shaped by forces both seen and unseen. The work I do isn’t about erasing the hard parts of you. It’s about meeting them with honesty, compassion, and curiosity.
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My approach is rooted in humanistic and existential therapy — practices that honor your lived experience, your agency, and your capacity to grow. I draw from Jungian psychology to help explore the shadow — the hidden, disowned, or tender places that still want to belong. And I integrate practical tools from CBT when they support clarity and more freedom in how you respond to life.
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But beyond methods and techniques, my work is shaped by a deeper orientation — one influenced by Eastern philosophies like Taoism and Buddhism, and Western ones like existentialism and stoicism. These traditions offer something modern psychology often forgets: that growth isn’t always about doing more. Sometimes, it’s about softening. Pausing. Listening. Letting go of the fight.
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When we work together, you don’t need to perform or prove anything. You bring what’s true — even if it’s messy, confusing, or incomplete — and we follow it with care. Some days that means conversation. Other days it means silence, breath, or simply noticing where tension lives in your body. Whatever shows up, we meet it gently.
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If you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or just ready to stop carrying it all alone — I’m here. Therapy doesn’t have to be another thing to get right. It can be a place to come home to yourself.
ABOUT ME
The greatest gift you ever give is your honest self.
- Fred "Mr." Rogers
I used to want to be a filmmaker—drawn to stories, to what makes us human. But in 2004, while volunteering on a suicide hotline, something shifted. I realized I didn’t just want to tell stories. I wanted to be part of someone’s story. To listen, to support, to walk with people through the parts of life that don’t get tied up neatly.
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Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with people from all walks of life—in schools, clinics, group practices, and now in private practice. Each person has taught me something about what it means to suffer, to heal, and to grow.
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What I’ve learned is that true healing doesn’t come from quick fixes or surface-level solutions. It comes from slowing down, turning inward, and working with the whole of who you are—body, mind, and heart.
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This is the work I love. And it’s the work I offer you. A space to show up honestly, feel fully, and move toward a life that feels more like your own.
FEES & INSURANCE
My fee is $200 for a 45-minute individual session.
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Payment is processed after each session using a card you keep on file—credit, debit, or FSA/HSA all work.
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If you're not using insurance and the full fee doesn’t feel manageable, feel free to reach out. I keep a limited number of sliding scale spots, and I’m always open to a conversation about what’s possible.
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I'm in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim, and Tufts (including Connector HMO plans).
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If you have a PPO or another out-of-network plan, you may be able to get reimbursed for sessions. I’m registered with Reimbursify, a simple app that can help with that process.