Michael Leimbach
Clinical Supervisor, LMFT #44552
Santa Cruz Office
Hello. Here is a little about me and my work history:
I’ve lived in Santa Cruz County since 1976. I graduated from Santa Cruz High School and attended Santa Clara University for both my undergraduate as well as my graduate degree in Counseling Psychology. I was licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist in 2007.
During my years as an intern and a licensed therapist, I have worked in a number of different places with a variety of populations. More about that at: www.Michaelleimbach.com
I come from an integrative approach utilizing theoretical orientations that feel appropriate to me and for those that I’m working with. I find myself using evidence based interventions and strategies that have shown to be effective for certain symptoms and issues. These include experiential, narrative, systems, CBT/ DBT, motivational interviewing, cognitive restructuring, and emotionally focused therapy. Currently, I am a practicum supervisor for the California Institute for Integral Studies (CIIS) as well as a clinical supervisor at Family Service Agency and here at Shine a Light. I also see students and their families at a local high school and clients at Family Services and my small private practice. I find the work in this field to be challenging and extremely fulfilling both professionally and personally. I have felt continuously fortunate to do this work and cross paths with the people I have over the years. When I’m not working you can often find me outdoors enjoying many of the wonderful things our beautiful central coast offers or doing my best to get to the Hawaiian Islands (island boy at heart :).
Request an Appointment
To Request an Appointment at Shine a Light or NPCC, please fill out this form. Please note *We respond to inquiries Monday through Friday 8AM to 8PM. All inquiries we receive on the weekends or holidays will be processed the next business day. Thank you for your patience.
Agency Inquiries
New Office in San Francisco!
Shine a Light Counseling Center is please to merge with New Perspectives Center for Counseling. NPCC has been serving the San Francisco community for thirty years. Now NPCC is transitioning to become the San Francisco site for Shine a Light. NPCC will retain its name, character and history. For information about NPCC or counseling in San Francisco:
New Perspectives Center for Counseling
Emergency Contact
Shine a Light does not provide crisis services. If you have a mental health emergency, call 988 or 911. Or click here for more Crisis Resources
Telephone Contact
You can call Shine a Light at 831-996-1222, but we encourage you to use the email forms to the left. If you call, please leave the following:
- Phone number
- Preferred location
- Best times to meet
- Issue you want help with
- What insurance you have (if any)
FAX us at: 831-417-0443
Good Faith Estimate
You have the right to receive a “Good Faith Estimate” explaining how much your medical care will cost. Your fee will be set according to a sliding scale, in collaboration with your therapist, prior to your first counseling session. Total costs depend upon the number of sessions you choose to utilize.
If you have private health insurance, please be aware that your costs for therapy may be less by using an in-network provider for your insurance company. This will depend upon your plan's deductible amounts and co-payments. In some cases, counseling at Shine a Light is less costly than using private insurance.
If you hope to use "out of network" benefits through your private insurance, please be aware that many plans will not reimburse for services provided by pre-licensed therapists (most of our staff).
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