 orn
into a large working class family in Rochester, New York, Dr.
Mike Deninger rose from humble beginnings to the top of his
profession as an educator of the deaf. He became an assistant
principal when he was 26, a principal at the age of 29, and at
the age of 33 he was appointed Dean of Kendall Demonstration
Elementary School at Gallaudet University, a world-renowned
research and development center on deafness. Within 10 years he
was chosen to lead all pre-university level programs at
Gallaudet as the Dean of Pre-College Programs. His name in the
field of deafness was associated with innovations in
microcomputer technology, K-12 curriculum development, school
improvement and cultural conflict in schools and programs
serving the deaf.During his 40s, however, he faced several
challenges that would spark intense introspection. He got sober,
came out of the closet and recalled incest at the hands of his
father that had been blocked from active memory. His personal
and professional lives were transformed.
"Dr. Mike" now enjoys sharing his skills, knowledge, and
wisdom in his current role as a mental health therapist and
through his writings, workshops, and presentations. Dr. Mike is
a seasoned veteran of life. Keenly aware of the renewal that is
possible when one frees the mind, relaxes the will, and
cultivates the inner spirit, he understands from the inside out
what it's like to recover from life's tragedies. His book,
Snakes in My Dreams: A Mental Health Therapist's Odyssey from
Hardship to Healer, poignantly conveys the truth he feels
compelled to share "before my time is up." To purchase the book,
click here.
Dr. Mike holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a
Master of Science degree in Special Education from Canisius
College. He earned his doctoral degree with distinction in
Special Education Administration and a Master of Arts in Mental
Health Counseling, both from Gallaudet University. An
accomplished American Sign Language interpreter, Dr. Mike worked
for 25 years at Gallaudet before launching his current career as
counselor, writer, trainer and specialist in the treatment of
trauma and post-traumatic stress.
Dr. Mike is a Licensed Professional Counselor (Virginia) and
he holds certification from the National Board for Certified
Counselors. He was certified as a clinical hypnotherapist by the
National Board for Certified Clinical Hypnotherapists in 2000.
In 2009 he received advanced certifications as a trainer of Eye
Movement Integration, Ericksonian Hypnotherapy, and Neuro
Linguistic Programming from the American Hypnosis Training
Academy.
Dr. Mike is an experienced speaker and trainer who has made
hundreds of presentations at conferences sponsored by
organizations such as the Convention of American Instructors of
the Deaf, the World Federation of the Deaf, the Conference of
Educational Administrators Serving the Deaf, the International
Congress on Education of the Deaf, the International Conference
on Male Sexual Victimization, the Annual Conference of the
Anxiety Disorders Association of America, and The Biannual
Conference of the American Deafness and Rehabilitation
Association.
Prior to establishing Phoenix Counseling & Hypnotherapy in
Alexandria, Virginia, in 2001, Dr. Mike held positions as a
teacher, principal, graduate professor, researcher and
university administrator. Dr. Mike is also an Equity actor who
has performed off Broadway in New York and at the Kennedy Center
and Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Mike now intends to begin devoting more of his time and
energies to speaking out about incest and sexual abuse and the
methods he has found to help survivors of all sorts heal from
the abuse they have suffered from priests, coaches, strangers,
family members or friends. He is anticipating that he will be
more involved in activities that will gradually take time away
from direct client service. He will be more involved in training
other mental health professionals, presenting at conferences and
speaking publicly about incest and sexual abuse. A memoir of his
life – Snakes in My Dreams: A Mental Health Therapist's Odyssey
from Hardship to Healer – is now in print. To purchase
the book, click here.

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Dr. Mike Deninger.
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