I had the opportunity to read your paper "Three Decades in the Gay Community as a Straight Therapist"  Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, Vol. 16, #2, Nov 2, 2004, for my social work foundation class at East Tennessee State University. I am so completely moved by you and your support of the gay community, especially during a time in our history when homosexuality was still considered a psychopathology and many gay therapists themselves were unable to come out of the closet and openly advertise themselves as a safe place for gays and lesbians to seek help. Your work with folks during the AIDS crisis is also admirable, and as someone who lost a number of friends in the mid 80's I can only imagine what that must have been like to facilitate support groups for this population.  I subsequently found your website and have to say, I love the way you present yourself with both warmth and strong boundaries, especially around the way you set up your fee scale."    10/23/2012

Beth E. Barber, MSW Intern, Graduate Student Success Specialist, School of Graduate Studies

EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY

(Part of an email to Mike - used with permission)

“And you, Mike, will always be the person who saved my life (or helped me to save it myself).  I have never forgotten that, and was asking if you were still working, b/c I am still running across some very troubled young men that really could use your help, but I haven’t broken them down yet… So, I know I have said it many times.......Thank you...........I doubt I would have made it this far, if you had not been the therapist closest to my  house, that year I was holed up there in my bedroom (1990-1991).  I was 27 that year, and   I am thrilled to be turning 50 in March. I wish you the best, in the rest of your career, and your eventual retirement.  This will be a huge loss for a lot of people.”     S. P.

(Part of an email sent to Mike)

You assured me and talked me down through all of those years and it all bore fruit in the nicest way this year. So I wanted to share these photos with you. They are in good measure thanks to the wonderful work you did with me and its not only something I'll never forget but it also changed my life.   B.G.