Michael VanderWaal, LCSW

Therapist | Retreat Facilitator | Community Builder

I’m a licensed therapist and retreat facilitator who’s passionate about helping people reconnect with their inner wisdom and experience meaningful transformation. At the heart of my work is a deep belief in healing through connection—whether with self, community, or the natural world. I was drawn to this path through my own journey with loss, identity, and finding aliveness in unexpected places.

My work blends traditional therapy with expanded-state modalities like ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), Internal Family Systems (IFS), transpersonal psychotherapy, and nature-based healing. Whether I’m working one-on-one, leading groups, or holding space on retreat, I aim to meet each person with presence, curiosity, and compassion. Sessions tend to be intuitive and spacious, yet anchored in evidence-based frameworks.

I hold a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan and am licensed in several states. I’ve trained with CIIS, Polaris Insight Center, and Journey Clinical, and have facilitated psychedelic integration and ketamine retreats across the country. I work virtually, in person, and through Beyond Retreats, a nature-based retreat collective I founded.

I care deeply about creating spaces that feel safe, soulful, and real. I love working with people navigating grief, major life transitions, burnout, and spiritual emergence. Above all, I want those I work with to feel met. My approach is rooted in respect, non-judgment, and the belief that healing isn’t about fixing ourselves—it’s about remembering who we are.