Michael R. Whitehead, PhD, LMFT

04/10/2026

Struggling working with children and adolescents? Check out this training!

https://www.pesi.com/sales/bh_c_002364_childadolescentbehaviortreatment_dedicatedemail_2mo-2038659

04/09/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 #𝟭 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁-𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗺𝗮𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲!

When it launched, 𝘛𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘶𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 took the clinical world by storm, reaching:
🥇 #𝟭 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 in Adolescent Counseling
🥇 #𝟭 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿 in Counseling Children
🥇 #𝟭 𝗛𝗼𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 in Adolescent Psychology

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆?

Because it offers more than just theory—it offers a new 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙜𝙢 (a complete shift in your worldview and mental model) for working with families experiencing disruptive behaviors. Dr. Michael Whitehead, LMFT, moves past simple symptom management to provide a structured, evidence-based approach: 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆 (𝗜𝗦𝗣𝗧).

"With a balance of big-picture thinking and concrete tools, this book offers a clear and compassionate approach to clinical work with even the most challenging of cases."
— 𝗥𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗰𝗮 𝗔. 𝗖𝗼𝗯𝗯, 𝗣𝗵𝗗, 𝗟𝗠𝗙𝗧 (Editor of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘵'𝘴 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘚𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤 𝘛𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺)

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁-𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿?

• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗜𝗦𝗢𝗡 & 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘀: Specific, actionable acronyms to help you and your clients stay regulated during the "eye of the storm."

• 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺: A step-by-step curriculum to move treatment out of the playroom and into the home.

• 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀: Practical handouts, structured activities, and case studies that make implementation immediate and easy.

Whether you are a seasoned clinician or a parent looking for a lifeline, find out why thousands are turning to this systemic approach.

👉 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗢𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗻: https://www.amazon.com/Treating-Children-Disruptive-Behavior-Disorders/dp/1683738675

𝘼𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙄𝙎𝙋𝙏 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮?
If this book has changed your practice or your home, please pay it forward by 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗻. Your feedback helps other clinicians find the tools they need to bring hope back to families! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Treating Children with Disruptive Behavior Disorders: An Integrative Play and Systems Theory Approach to Oppositional, Aggressive, and Antisocial Behavior

03/19/2026

📢 Calling all Mental Health Professionals (Trainees to Retirees)
I have been incredibly fortunate in my career to have never experienced exploitative training or employment practices. However, as I’ve supervised new professionals and hired providers for my own practice, I have been both appalled and surprised by the stories they share about their past experiences.

It has become clear that many practices our field considers "normal", like "pay-to-work" schemes to unmanageable caseloads, are actually deeply exploitative.

I am developing a training titled "Beyond the 'Rite of Passage': Ethical Boundaries Against Clinician Exploitation" to help others identify these red flags and protect their careers.

I would LOVE your help: I am looking to gather real-life experiences from providers.

Note: I am not looking for the names of specific clinics or practices. I am seeking general descriptions of the types of experiences you've had.

This survey is completely anonymous. Your stories will help me create a training that challenges the status quo and protects the next generation of therapists.

🔗 Share your experience here:

I'm trying to gather Real Life experiences of therapists/counselors who believe that they have experienced exploitation in their career. This information is completely anonymous. Only provide your email address at the end if you would like to receive a link to the recorded presentation. The first se...

03/11/2026

Don’t get locked out! 🚨

Advanced registration for my upcoming training goes live to our email community this Friday. Because we prioritize a high-impact learning environment, spots are strictly limited and are expected to fill quickly.

If you aren’t on the list, you risk missing the opportunity to join us. Sign up now to get the link first.

Here is the link to sign up: https://www.aspengrovetherapy.com/2026-play-therapy-ces/

02/28/2026

🗓️ 2026 Play Therapy Training Dates are LOCKED!

Hi everyone! I’ve officially finalized my training schedule for the upcoming year, and I couldn't be more excited. I have over 60 contact hours of Play Therapy CEs planned, and the dates are now 100% set.

I am fully committed to this schedule, so you can add these dates to your calendar with total confidence. Because space is limited for each session, I’m offering a "heads-up" list for those who want to secure their spot before the general public.

✨ Early Access Opportunity
Want to beat the rush? Sign up on the website to receive a one-week notification before registration links go public.

👉 https://www.aspengrovetherapy.com/2026-play-therapy-ces/

What’s Next?
Pricing and specific course details will be posted on the website shortly as they are finalized. In the meantime, please save the dates and let me know if you have any questions in the comments!

Thanks,

Dr. Whitehead

02/22/2026

In addition to my book on ISPT, I have had the privilege to work on a chapter in another important book for therapists! Thank you Dr. Cobb for the invite to contribute to this important volume!

It is full of great resources. Be sure to grab yourself a copy!

https://www.amazon.com/Therapists-Notebook-Teletherapy-Children-Adolescents/dp/1032362405

01/23/2026

New Offering: The Relationship Mini-Marathon ⏱️❤️

Is an hour a week not cutting it? I’m now booking 3-4 hour intensive sessions for couples who want to make significant progress in a single afternoon.

The best part? I’m offering these at a short-term discount as I wrap up my final Gottman Certification credentials.

✅ PhD-level expertise ✅ Research-based Gottman interventions ✅ 4 hours of focused, systemic work ✅ Limited-time certification pricing

Appointment options:
- Thursdays: 3pm to 8pm or
- Saturdays: 10am to 2pm

Contact me here to reserve your spot: https://www.aspengrovetherapy.com/marathon-couple-therapy-interest-form/

12/18/2025

Recently received feedback from my PESI presentation! Check them out (along with other feedback received)!

12/13/2025

Register now to not miss out on this important conference!

Here is the link: https://my.pesi.partners/78BBGDM/2SWXXJN/

10/30/2025

If you haven't had a chance to read my book yet, now is the time to get it. It is currently topping the Amazon Best Sellers lists for the following categories:

#1: Counseling Children
#2: Adolescent Counseling

And is #1 as a new release in the following categories:

- Counseling
- Adolescent Counseling
- Mental Illness
- Adolescent Psychology

10/28/2025

Today, I presented for the Systemic Family Therapy Conference on my approach (ISPT). I recorded a similar presentation and turned it into a free intro course to my book and my approach.

I encourage anyone interested in the book to take a chance to explore the recording.

This recorded workshop introduces clinicians to ISPT, and the contents of my book, Treating Children with Disruptive Behavior Disorders: An Integrative Play

10/27/2025

Only 1 day left before this book is available to the public!

If you work with or have children who express oppositional, defiant, aggressive, or violent behaviors, discover the hope, healing, and transformation that is possible from using Integrative Systemic Play Therapy!

Order here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1683738675