Michael Demoratz, LCSW

Michael Demoratz is a licensed clinical social worker with 40 years of experience. He helps people facing grief, loss, depression, and compassion fatigue. He works with concerns related to aging, cancer, caregiving stress, chronic illness and pain, and end-of-life issues.

He focuses on clear, respectful conversation. Sessions center on the person sitting across from him, with plans shaped to fit each person’s situation and goals. He aims for straightforward talk that helps people name what matters and find workable steps forward.

Over a long career in California, he has worked extensively around hospice and end-of-life care and has published on those topics. He also offers a series of free videos under the Dying101 name for those who prefer to learn from short recorded material before starting live work.

Michael emphasizes practical support for caregivers, people living with chronic pain or illness, and those wrestling with guilt, shame, or forgiveness. He tries to make sessions useful between visits, suggesting small actions people can try and reflect on.

He tailors pacing and the approach to each person’s needs. People who are nervous about starting often find the first few steps are about feeling heard and setting a few clear priorities. To begin, users should use the site’s Start Therapy button and complete the brief matching questionnaire.

Approaches that guide online work and practical support

Michael’s practice draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques aimed at helping people live with loss and chronic health challenges. One approach focuses on gentle short-term problem solving and coping skills to reduce distress and make daily life easier; it teaches concrete strategies for managing symptoms and caregiving tasks. Another approach centers on grief-focused care that helps people name their loss, process emotions, and find ways to remember and adjust to life after a major change.

Finding the right method is part of the work. The therapist will listen to your needs, goals, and preferences and then suggest which approaches to try. Together you will track what helps and make adjustments as you go, so the plan fits your situation rather than following a fixed script.

Confirm the available session options before booking since specific formats are not listed in his biography. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, shorten commute time, and let people check in from quieter surroundings or during a work break. It also allows revisiting material between sessions, including links to his Dying101 videos, so learning and reflection can continue at a flexible pace.