Mali Austriyak Mikhli , LCSW-R

Mali Austriyak Mikhli is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW-R) with more than four decades of professional experience helping people navigate major life challenges. She was drawn to social work early in life after witnessing how skilled, empathetic therapy can transform daily functioning and overall well-being, and she has dedicated her career to offering that same level of sensitive, intuitive care to others.

Her practice emphasizes supportive and psychotherapeutic interventions tailored to each person’s history and needs. Mali has worked with individuals across the lifespan and with people from many cultures, religions, and lifestyles, bringing an adaptable and respectful approach to diverse clinical situations. Her primary clinical interests include PTSD, bereavement, and early childhood disruption and trauma, and she integrates cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, and psychodynamic ideas to address these concerns.

Known for a warm, interactive style, Mali engages clients with respect, sensitivity, and compassion while helping them develop practical coping strategies and deeper insight. She believes taking the first step toward change requires courage, and she aims to support and empower those who are ready to pursue a more fulfilling and happier life.

Online Therapeutic Approaches and Support

Mali integrates client-centered therapy, which emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaboration to help people feel heard and respected while they explore personal goals and challenges. This approach is helpful for those seeking a supportive space to clarify values and strengthen self-awareness.

She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and to teach practical skills for managing stress, anxiety, mood, and coping with life changes. CBT tends to focus on problem-solving and developing strategies that can be applied between sessions.

Mali brings elements of emotionally-focused therapy (EFT) to work on relationship patterns and emotional connection, helping individuals and couples understand underlying feelings and improve relational communication. Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Mali works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and locations. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, fit therapy into a busy life, and connect with licensed professionals from wherever one is based.