Dr. Micah Zylstra is a clinical psychologist who works with adults experiencing depression, trauma, grief, and relationship concerns. Many of the people he works with are thoughtful, capable individuals who tend to function well in their daily lives, yet find themselves feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or weighed down in ways that don’t always make sense. He takes a thoughtful, integrative approach to therapy, creating a calm and supportive space where clients can better understand themselves and the patterns shaping their lives. Drawing from psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral strategies, humanistic psychology, and clinical hypnosis, Micah helps clients build emotional balance, resilience, and more fulfilling relationships—supporting both insight and practical change in everyday life
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Micah works with adults who may be doing well in many areas of life, yet still feel emotionally overwhelmed, disconnected, or stuck due to past experiences that continue to quietly shape how they relate to themselves and others. In therapy, Micah helps people feel less ruled by shame or self-doubt and more at ease in their relationships and daily lives. His work creates space for clients to slow down, explore what’s been weighing on them, and begin to experience more clarity, confidence, and hope moving forward.
Micah earned his Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies and Psychology from Michigan State University and his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Adelphi University. His doctoral research focused on how people internally experience trauma, stress, and loss—particularly during periods of uncertainty and crisis. This work deepened his understanding of how feelings such as hopelessness, isolation, and fear can shape emotional well-being.
Micah’s clinical training spans a wide range of therapeutic approaches, including psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and mentalization-based therapies. He completed his predoctoral internship at JCCA’s Brooklyn Foster Home Services, where he provided therapy, consultation, and psychological assessments. This work strengthened his ability to help people understand how early experiences can continue to influence mood, self-esteem, emotional regulation, and relationships well into adulthood.
Early on, Micah supported at-risk adolescents in building independence and emotional regulation, later serving as a behavior specialist and clinical leader within foster care programs. After moving to New York City, he worked as a crisis counselor for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, completing thousands of risk assessments and providing support during moments of acute distress. He was later promoted to Training and Quality Improvement Specialist, where he trained and supervised mental health professionals and helped develop best practices for compassionate, effective care.
Micah takes a warm and collaborative approach to therapy. He works with people who may feel weighed down by past experiences or notice that old wounds still affect their daily lives. In sessions, clients often describe feeling understood and at ease, sometimes for the first time in a long while. By blending genuine connection with thoughtful, creative approaches, Micah helps people build confidence, develop healthier ways of responding to stress, and feel more present, steady, and hopeful in their everyday lives.
Micah’s approach blends thoughtful insight with practical tools. Together, he and his clients explore how earlier relationships and experiences may still influence the way they think, feel, and respond today—often in subtle, automatic ways. This might look like noticing how a familiar sense of pressure shows up in work meetings, or how certain relationships quietly trigger an old urge to withdraw. Therapy with Micah begins by making sense of the past and then moves toward creative, personalized ways of navigating emotions, relationships, and stress in the present. He believes meaningful change happens when people feel accepted as they are, while also being supported in making shifts that help them feel more confident, connected, and in control of their lives.
Micah incorporates clinical hypnosis and cognitive behavioral tools to support meaningful, lasting change. Hypnosis helps clients strengthen emotional regulation and access new ways of responding, often where old patterns once felt fixed. Therapy then focuses on bringing these shifts into daily life and relationships, so insight leads to real, sustainable progress.
Micah has pursued additional training in clinical hypnosis, group psychotherapy, and meaning-centered therapy, expanding the range of ways he can support clients. He also draws from humanistic principles that emphasize creativity, honesty, and authenticity within the therapeutic relationship. This allows him to tailor therapy to each person’s unique needs and adjust his approach as those needs evolve over time.
These approaches are grounded in psychodynamic therapy, allowing Micah to offer a holistic and personalized experience that addresses multiple layers of well-being. His work attends not only to immediate concerns, but also to deeper patterns in relationships, identity, and meaning—helping clients feel more aligned, connected, and whole.
Working with Micah often feels both grounding and refreshing. Clients appreciate his genuine curiosity, his ability to meet people where they are, and his natural way of bringing lightness and humor into conversations when it’s helpful. At the same time, he shows up fully for the hard moments, helping clients feel supported as they work through complex emotions and experiences. This balance allows people to be more open, more themselves, and more hopeful about the changes they’re working toward.
