Dr. Michael Hanna
works with adults who want
to live healthier and fuller lives.
We live in times of remarkable challenges and opportunities. Maintaining high levels of health and well-being is the essential prerequisite for us to live fulfilling lives, care for our families, and make great contributions to our communities and the world.
Yet the modern world often makes it challenging to maintain our health and well-being. Work can sometimes be hectic or stressful. Difficulties can arise with various people in our lives, and we may not always be receiving enough social support. There may not always be enough time and opportunity to maintain our physical health the way we would like, and physical illnesses can wear us down. The many problems and insecurities in the world (such as climate change, economic recession, wars, discrimination, inflation, etc.) can cause us worry or stress. And sometimes random bad things do suddenly happen in life. On top of it all, the COVID pandemic shut-down has made most people feel worried, isolated, and worn out. All these various difficulties can then prevent us from really living our lives fully, developing our many wonderful talents, and making valuable contributions to our families, friends, and communities. Revitalizing our lives begins by recharging our mental, physical, and social health. And in recent years, more and more people are realizing that it is easier and better to just talk about life with a professional and take proactive steps to live the healthiest and best life possible.
Services
The private practice of Dr. Michael Hanna offers general Clinical Psychology services for adults who want to live healthier and fuller lives.
Services are custom-tailored to the needs and interests of each particular client. Yet the initial meetings normally also include a broad evaluation of basic health behaviors (e.g. diet, exercise, sleep, etc.), mood patterns, social environment, and health history. Health counseling is then offered to enable clients to improve the areas of their mental, physiological, behavioral, and social health that are most important to them. Advising and interventions are also offered for preventive healthcare. Counseling may be offered for many issues affecting health. Short-term psychotherapy based on scientific evidence may also sometimes be recommended for specific issues when appropriate, but it is not the main or default service offered. As a Clinical Psychologist, I also do not prescribe medication. But if you are already taking medication that you want to discontinue, I will work together with you and your medical doctor to develop a pathway toward moving beyond medications. Second opinions on prior mental healthcare from other providers can also be offered, if requested, and referrals to other specialized healthcare providers will also be made whenever needed. All services are provided with the goal of improving your health and quality of life. So we will always evaluate our progress toward that goal together.
About
Dr. Michael Hanna is a licensed Psychologist with over two decades of international experience in medical research, health counseling, and healthcare innovation.
Born in New York City, he earned: a Bachelor’s degree (BA) in Neuroscience & Behavior from Wesleyan University in the USA, a Master’s degree (MA) in Clinical Psychology from the University of Paris VIII in France, and a Doctoral degree (PhD) in Clinical Psychology from the University of Cologne, Germany. During his education, he received clinical training at the Saint Antoine Hospital of Paris, the Raymond Poincaré Hospital of the greater Paris region, and the Marjorie Kovler Center in Chicago. After completing his doctorate, he then taught Medical Psychology and Doctor/Patient Communication at the University of Aachen Germany for two years and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Medical Ethics and Public Health at Cornell University’s medical school in New York City. For the past 20 years, Dr. Hanna’s main company, Mercury Medical Research & Writing, has been providing scientific consulting services to cutting-edge medical researchers in the US, Germany, and other countries. So in addition to his native New York City, he has lived in Berlin, Paris, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, London, and Cairo. He has published two scholarly books and several scientific reports, scholarly articles, and healthcare policy papers. He is fluent in English, French, German, and Spanish. Dr. Michael Hanna is licensed to practice as a Psychologist in France (RPPS# 10101957700) and in the USA in Connecticut (license #5283).
Approach
I take a modern, friendly, professional, humanist approach to health, grounded in shared decision making.
During initial sessions, I mostly listen very closely to what my clients are telling me. I may also ask you to fill out some standardized health questionnaires. Then through dialogue, we develop a mutual understanding of what the main health-related issues are that we want to address first, and what a successful outcome might look like. I then propose a plan for how we can reach that outcome, get your feedback, and revise that plan until we’re on the same page. This normally involves further sessions of conversation, but it often also involves other recommended activities for you to try on your own, in order to make healthy changes in your life. When it’s needed and agreed to, I sometimes also refer clients to other specialists for supplemental services. During our conversations, I will always communicate clearly and openly with you. If you ever have any questions, just ask. I will always answer you in plain English that anyone can understand, (no “expert” jargon, no euphemisms, no esoteric nonsense, etc.) You remain fully in charge of your health and your life. So clear and open communication between us is essential for us to reach your goals.
Reach Out
If you would like to discuss how we might work together, just send me an email:
There is no cost for the initial consultation. I look forward to hearing from you and learning a bit more about your current life. Thank you for reaching out.
