Mike Arbanas, LMHC, NCC

Mike is a licensed mental health therapist working full time at FCC.  He provides individual and couples counseling for clients pre-teen and older.  Mike has a holistic approach to therapy and draws on his athletic and personal training background to incorporate diet, exercise, and physical health into therapy.  

Mike’s background in the mental health field began in 2000 when he worked on the inpatient psychology units of St. Margaret’s, Dyer campus, University of Chicago and Northwestern Hospital.  In those settings, he worked with a wide range of patients with mental health struggles, substance abuse issues, and geriatric patients with dementia or alzheimer’s. The richness of the different settings and exposure to professionals at the top of their field helped him hone his craft and develop a passion for therapy.  

Mike began his Master’s Degree studies while working at the Porter County Juvenile Detention Center.  He gained experience as a detention officer, shift leader and Behavioral Case Manager. As the Behavioral Case manager, he developed and led the group program for the residents, managed JDC’s mental health diversion program, and acted as the in-house therapist.

Mike graduated from Purdue University Calumet with a double Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice/Sociology and Psychology.  He received his Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Valparaiso University in 2013.

Mike provides counseling in the following areas:  

• Attention Deficit Disorder / Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder

• Conduct Disorder

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Stress

• Substance Abuse issues

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

• Bipolar disorder

• Schizophrenia and related disorders

• Personality disorders

• Marriage and relationship issues