Clinical Expertise

Dr. Goldstein uses an integrated approach to therapy, primarily drawing from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT). With foundational expertise in treating depression, anxiety, work-related stress, burnout, and life stage transitions, he also specializes in behavioral sleep medicine, mindfulness, breathing-based practices, and technology such as mobile apps and wearable devices to carefully tailor each individual’s treatment plan and boost motivation for behavior change.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Striving to bring a compassionately collaborative dynamic to clinical care, Dr. Goldstein uses a humanistic framework that is rooted in a deep understanding of each individual’s lived experience. He has been involved with organized DEI efforts including the Harvard Anti-Racism Book & Film Club and subcommittees of his professional societies, while also recognizing that some of the most important DEI advocacy happens in daily interactions. Dr. Goldstein is also an adoptee and welcomes working with individuals for questions or concerns related to adoption.

Training

Dr. Goldstein began his path as a clinician in 2010 as a volunteer counselor with a community mental health center serving adolescents and families, with training in family systems theory and extensive opportunities to lead clinical care teams in both crisis response and longer-term management. He received a B.A. in Psychology with Comprehensive Honors at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Arizona with specialization in insomnia and behavioral medicine. During his predoctoral internship at the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, he completed a number of general mental health and specialty rotations, and developed a group therapy program for insomnia. Dr. Goldstein then completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Harvard Medical School (HMS), obtaining Certificates in Clinical Effectiveness and Sleep Medicine.

Prior to joining CPG, Dr. Goldstein was Clinical Director and Staff Psychologist for the Division of Digital Psychiatry at BIDMC.

Research & Teaching

Following completion of his research fellowship, Dr. Goldstein has maintained an affiliation with BIDMC and HMS. He has published over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on sleep, depression, stress and resilience, EEG, heart rate variability, and mind-body interventions, with funding from the National Science Foundation, Mind and Life Institute, and Harvard’s Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. Alongside extensive experience with data analysis & visualization, he has designed and completed multiple randomized controlled trial studies examining yogic breathing and mindfulness practices. Dr. Goldstein is also a collaborator for clinical trial studies on sleep interventions, such as the Harvard Football Players Health Study with retired NFL players (Wanberg et al., 2022) and the MGH Survivorship Sleep Program (Hall et al., 2022), and serves as a guest editor for the Frontiers in Sleep special issue ‘Improving Behavioral Sleep Intervention Outcomes’. His research has been featured in Harvard Business Review, Forbes, Prevention.com, and other outlets.

Dr. Goldstein is enthusiastic about teaching, ranging from educational talks to community audiences, to wellness & burnout-prevention discussions with healthcare providers, and he recently served as a Teaching Fellow for the Harvard College sleep course (GenEd 1038).

Education

• University of Wisconsin-Madison, BA
• University of Arizona, MA
• University of Arizona, PhD
• Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Predoctoral Internship
• Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Postdoctoral Research Fellowship

Areas of Expertise

Insomnia and other sleep problems, depression and generalized anxiety, health-related anxiety, life transitions, adjustment difficulties, academics, work stress and burnout, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), motivational interviewing (MI), mindfulness, breathing practices

Hobbies

Michael enjoys hiking in the woods, Chinese & Japanese teas, cooking, traveling, triathlon training, and a personal practice of meditation and yoga.