Michael Demoratz, LCSW

Michael Demoratz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with four decades of practice in California. He focuses on grief, loss, depression, and compassion fatigue and offers a calm, respectful presence for people facing hard transitions.

He has long experience in end-of-life care and has published on the topic. Michael also creates freely available video material on YouTu.be at the handle Dying101 to help people learn at their own pace.

In sessions he listens first and then tailors conversation and a plan to each person's situation. He aims to help people manage difficult feelings, navigate caregiving challenges, and make choices that fit their values. Meetings focus on what the person needs now and next.

He works with people dealing with aging and geriatric concerns, cancer, chronic pain, illness, and disability. Other topics he addresses include caregiver stress, guilt and shame, forgiveness, hospice and end-of-life counseling, and men's issues.

Michael describes therapy as a practical collaboration. He supports people through grief and life change with straightforward discussion and clear next steps. Taking the first step can feel hard, and he offers steady guidance through that process.

Approaches that guide online care and learning

Michael uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical help. For grief and loss this often means structured conversations about memories, meaning, and routines to reduce day-to-day overwhelm and restore helpful habits. For caregiver stress and compassion fatigue he emphasizes concrete coping skills, pacing strategies, and ways to manage emotional burnout so caregiving can feel more sustainable.

Choosing methods is collaborative. The therapist works with each person to try approaches that match their goals and preferences, adjusting as needed based on how things feel and what is helpful. Finding the right fit is part of the work rather than a fixed decision made at the start.

Confirm current session options before booking because formats are not listed here. Online sessions can make therapy easier to fit into busy days, reduce travel time, and allow follow-ups between in-person visits when needed. They can also permit shorter check-ins, phone-only conversations when bandwidth is limited, or video conversations for more face-to-face interaction depending on what the therapist offers. Ask about available formats when you schedule.