Michael O’Brien, PhD

Dr. Michael O’Brien is a postdoctoral fellow at the Boston Child Study Center, where he provides expert evidence-based treatment in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), DBT-informed Trauma Treatment, Caregiver Coaching, Family Therapy, and transdiagnostic approaches to complex care under the supervision of Dr. Ryan Madigan. Attachment-Based Family Therapy and the Attachment, Regulation, and Competency model of care further inform his practice. Dr. O’Brien is passionate about providing flexible, person-centered support to adolescents, young adults, and their caregivers and families struggling with trauma-related symptoms, suicidal behavior, anxiety, depression, executive function difficulties, disordered eating, and substance use disorders.

Dr. O’Brien earned his BA in Economics and Psychology at Harvard College and his MA and PhD in Counseling Psychology at Boston College. He has worked with youth and their families in various settings, including the Justice Resource Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School, University of Massachusetts Medical School Adolescent Continuing Care Unit, and McLean Hospital / Harvard Medical School. He has worked across most levels of care, including outpatient, in-home family therapy, partial hospital, residential, inpatient, and long-term inpatient. Dr. O’Brien’s research focuses on positive youth development for LGBTQ+ youth as well as systemic influences on young people’s well-being and worldviews. He teaches at the undergraduate and graduate levels at Boston College.