Mike Guinasso Ph.D.

“Most clients arrive with a vague sense of what they want. My role, rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), is to help clarify what truly matters, hold you accountable in pursuing it, and guide you through the emotional challenges that inevitably arise. My goal is not necessarily to make your life easier, but to help you live more meaningfully. Therapy often involves challenging emotional work and I deeply honor the courage my clients bring to this process each time they enter the office.”

Mike Guinasso, PhD, is a Limited-Permit Psychologist with broad clinical training and focused experience supporting clients navigating substance use, sleep difficulties, and deep existential concerns such as meaning, purpose, identity, and mortality. Early in his career, Dr. Guinasso worked on the business development side of residential treatment centers for substance use. While this experience gave him valuable insight into the broader system of care, he realized he wanted to be in the rooms joining with client’s and their stories.

Dr. Guinasso completed his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the California School of Professional Psychology in San Francisco, where his research centered on sleep and its role in overall health. He has shared his work at multiple conferences within the US and internationally, and he is certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I). He has also served as a session committee member for the Asian American Psychological Association, reflecting his commitment to culturally responsive and evidence-based practice. He completed his doctoral internship at Southern Utah University (SUU), where his clinical work emphasized both therapy and psychological assessment. At SUU, he conducted comprehensive assessments for ADHD and learning disabilities, in addition to providing psychotherapy across a wide range of client needs. Beyond his clinical training, Dr. Guinasso has also taught college-level courses in statistics and psychometrics, reflecting his dual commitment to scientific rigor and applied practice.

In his clinical work, Dr. Guinasso integrates ACT, CBT, somatic therapies, existential-humanistic approaches, motivational interviewing, and elements of psychodynamic therapy. A central theme in his approach is fostering the ability to stay present, engage with life’s challenges openly, and pursue meaningful living also known as psychological flexibility. His work emphasizes helping clients clarify what matters, face difficult emotions, and pursue meaning, even when the path involves discomfort.

His research and academic interests lie at the intersections of sleep, substance use, and mental health. He continues to build upon this foundation by combining empirically supported practices with an individualized, humanistic approach to therapy.

Areas of Clinical Focus

• Substance use and recovery

• Existential concerns and meaning-making

• Young adult transitions and identity development

• Anxiety and depression

• Sleep disturbances and insomnia

• ADHD