Michael Tran, LMFT

Michael Tran is a licensed therapist with nearly a decade of experience helping children, teens, and adults find clarity and strength during life’s most challenging moments. Before joining Palo Alto Therapy, Michael worked extensively in community mental health with a focus on school-based programs for youth in San Jose Unified School District, giving him a grounded, real-world understanding of the pressures young people face.

Michael works with clients navigating anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, school refusal, ADHD, grief and loss, family separation, and the failure to launch challenges that many young adults and their families face. He has particular experience supporting clients through major life transitions, identity exploration including LGBTQIA+ concerns, and the lingering effects of trauma.

His approach is collaborative and skills-focused, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness to help clients understand their thoughts and emotions, build healthy coping skills, and take meaningful steps toward their goals.

When working with children, Michael incorporates play therapy to create a safe and comfortable space for expression, and partners closely with parents to support the entire family system. For teens and adults, he provides a space to speak freely, feel heard, and work through whatever is making life feel harder than it should.

Michael holds a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from San Jose State University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Social Action from Palo Alto University.

Outside of the office, Michael is a person of many hobbies including bicycling, bowling, fishing, aquascaping, photography, and brewing artisan coffee. He also enjoys video games, animation, comics, manga, and exploring new restaurants across the Bay Area.