Note: For those affected by some of the historical examples of Mind Control programming, I acknowledge that the name of SimplePractice's therapist marketing apparatus (Monarch) could be triggering and unsettling to some, and I have made note of this matter to SimplePractice when I became aware of their choice, a choice the company stated it made to acknowledge the imagery and symbolism of the beautiful and highly transformative journey of the lifecycle of the butterfly. It may still be triggering to some of you however, and that would be understandable. You and I can most certainly talk about all of this, as well as any affects upon you. My name is Michael S. Lang, M.A., LCPC, CSAT, I created my own private practice in 2005 in Bloomingdale, IL in the United States, and have been in private practice since then. Early on, I became a certified sex addiction therapist (CSAT) through training with Patrick Carnes and IITAP (International Institute of Trauma & Addiction Professionals). Additionally, dissociation and trauma entered into my practice, in the form of painful and compelling work with adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse and people suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder, or DID (previously known as Multiple Personality Disorder). I spent the ensuing years building my capacity around being therapeutic in that space through various means. If I had to name only one passion in my work, it would probably be working with these survivors and their stories. And so I am a trauma therapist, treating adult survivors of childhood sexual, physical, emotional and relational abuse. Many of these individuals suffer from degrees of dissociation ranging at the extreme to DID. I am quite comfortable working with these highly traumatized individuals, and primarily use a trauma-informed relational approach (as well as adhering to ISSTD guidelines), as the relational trauma can be so profound. My work also extends to survivors of Ritual Abuse, Mind Control and Organized Abuse. I am also quite comfortable working with individuals who are part of the LGBTQ+ communities, and while I identify as "mostly straight, most of the time", I considers myself an Ally. I also enjoy working with clients from different cultures, and most certainly believe that Black Lives Matter. I believe I am a highly compassionate and empathic clinician and individual, and have worked gamely to continue to find the proper balance in theoretical and clinical knowledge, relational dynamics and boundaries, a dash of humor, and efforts to find and affect "good therapy" in these spaces. I want to continue to grow in my ability to effectively engage and help with this most disturbing material. I have grown as a clinician with my own synthesis of the notions of “leaning in” to the client’s narrative with our mirror neurons and empathy active.