Dr. Michael R. Smith, Ph.D., N.C.C., is a coach for empathic and highly sensitive people who has been a leader in the field of mind-body holistic healing for nearly 15 years. He is the author of 8 research publications appearing in various scientific journals, and he has presented workshops in 20+ cities nationally, including at New York's famed Omega Institute.

In 2002, Michael received his Ph.D. in counseling from the University of Nevada-Reno, and that same year, Michael became Assistant Professor at the University of Wyoming. In 2003, Michael secured $25,000 in grant funding to teach Native American healing methods to mainstream graduate counseling students.

In 2005, Michael made a decision to move out of the academic mainstream and relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico. There he received a certification in Polarity therapy from the New Mexico Academy of Healing Arts and became a Registered Polarity Practitioner (R.P.P). He opened his own intuitive counseling and energy healing practice.

In March, 2008, Michael launched EmpathConnection.com, an online resource center for empaths and highly sensitive people, and he published his first book, The Complete Empath Toolkit. In 2009, Michael taught an empath workshop at the renowned Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, co-facilitated a sacred journey to explore Mayan ruins in Mexico, and released two well-received CD audiobooks, The Empath Experience, and Empath Intuition.

In 2010, Michael announced the formation of an empath and highly sensitive person scholarship program.

In his spare time, he enjoys golf, his two cats, drumming, and a wonderfully joyful Nia and Yoga practice.