Although Michael is trained in the western sciences of experimental and clinical psychopathology, his approach to addressing problems in mental, behavioral, and social health is informed by a variety of philosophical, spiritual and epistemological traditions. For example, his research, teaching, and clinical work draws from insights that have emerged out of Taoism, Native American spirituality, Buddhist philosophy, Baha’i ethics, existential theory, cognitive science, trauma theory, as well as poetry, sacred literatures and arts that span across the reaches of time, history and cultures.