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RS Portrait of Rell Spickerman

Rell Spickerman

Experienced counselor blending practical strategies and compassion

LMSW Michigan

Experience
40 years in practice
Focus areas
LGBT, Relationship, Grief
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English
Continue with Rell

About Rell

Rell Spickerman brings four decades of combined ministry and counseling into his therapeutic work, blending pastoral experience with clinical practice. As an LMSW practicing in Michigan, he has long focused on practical, solution-oriented help using cognitive behavioral methods among other approaches.

Background and approach

His background includes hospice chaplaincy providing bereavement support, work as a divorce mediator helping parents make child-centered decisions, and an active commitment to LGBTQ issues informed by family experience. He prefers a collaborative, nonjudgmental stance rather than a directive one, describing himself as a guide by the side who encourages growth and thoughtful risk-taking.

Sessions often draw on cognitive behavioral techniques and rational-emotive ideas to address anger, addictions, anxiety, depression, and relationship concerns, while also incorporating narrative elements and solution-focused strategies when helpful. Humor, unconditional positive regard, and practical Life Work Planning inform his style, with occasional use of Ericksonian hypnotherapy and healing storytelling when appropriate.

Clients can expect straightforward, compassionate support aimed at real-world change, whether dealing with grief, career planning, family problems, or identity-related concerns. He emphasizes listening, affirmation, and collaborative problem-solving to help people move forward from stuck patterns.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Rell incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as central tools in online sessions. CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to relieve symptoms like anxiety, depression, and stress, and it is often applied to relationship and coping challenges. ACT emphasizes values-based action and psychological flexibility, helping clients live more intentionally despite difficult thoughts and feelings and supporting work around grief, career choices, and life transitions.

He approaches treatment collaboratively, recognizing that finding the right therapeutic method is part of the process. The therapist will work with clients to select or combine approaches based on individual goals, preferences, and presenting concerns, adjusting strategies over time as progress and needs evolve.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which offer flexibility for scheduling and for communicating in the ways that suit each person best. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care around busy lives, geographic constraints, or mobility limitations while allowing licensed professionals to deliver structured, supportive interventions remotely.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Rell commonly address?
He works with a broad range of concerns including anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, family problems, trauma and abuse, career questions, stress, and self-esteem challenges.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
He favors a collaborative, nonjudgmental approach that combines practical problem-solving with warmth, humor, and affirmation to support growth and reduce resistance to change.
What is his clinical background and experience?
He has 40 years of experience that combine roles as a parish pastor, hospice chaplain providing bereavement support, divorce mediator, and long-term mental health counseling practice.
What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
He holds an LMSW with licence details MI LMSW 6801013241 and practices in Michigan.
Which languages are available and can he work internationally?
Sessions are offered in English, and he is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats does he offer?
He meets with clients through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working with him?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule appointments based on the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

LGBTRelationship issuesGriefCareer difficultiesDepression

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyAddictionsFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesBlended family issuesCancerCommitment issuesDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-loveSex addiction

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Narrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

40+ years

Licensed

Michigan

Languages

English