Michael Lonski

Michael Lonski
Nationality	American
Occupation	Clinical psychologist, nonprofit director
Title	Director of Education, Training, and Clinical Services
Employer	Life Matters, Inc.
Known for	Mental health support for first responders, 9/11 survivors, and military veterans; co-founding Life Matters, Inc.
Education	Ph.D. in Psychology
Website	https://michaellonski.com

Michael Lonski is an American licensed clinical psychologist based in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, whose career has centered on crisis psychology, trauma recovery, and mental health services for first responders, military personnel, and survivors of large-scale disasters. He is best known as a co-founder of Life Matters, Inc., a nonprofit organization established in 2002 to provide psychological support to firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel, veterans, and individuals affected by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. In 2004, Lonski testified before a subcommittee of the United States House of Representatives on the long-term health and psychological consequences of the September 11 attacks, bringing national attention to the mental health needs of the first responder community.

Early Life

Michael Lonski grew up with an interest in human behavior and the psychological dimensions of crisis and community. While specific details of his early life and upbringing are not extensively documented in public records, his academic and professional trajectory reflects a sustained commitment to applied clinical psychology, particularly within high-stress occupational contexts. He pursued graduate-level training in psychology, ultimately earning a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Psychology, which qualified him for licensure as a clinical psychologist in the state of Connecticut.

His early exposure to the worlds of emergency response and community mental health shaped the direction of his clinical work. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Lonski had developed a professional focus on populations whose occupational roles routinely expose them to trauma, loss, and critical incidents -- a focus that would define the arc of his career.

Education

Lonski holds a Ph.D. in Psychology and is licensed as a clinical psychologist in Connecticut. His graduate training equipped him with expertise in evidence-based therapeutic modalities, crisis intervention, and trauma treatment. The formal educational background he brought to his clinical work provided the foundation for his subsequent roles in nonprofit leadership, clinical training, and government consultation.

Career

Clinical Practice in Old Greenwich

Lonski operates a private clinical practice in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, where he provides psychotherapy and psychological evaluation services to individuals and families. His clinical work encompasses a wide range of presenting concerns, with particular expertise in trauma-related conditions, grief, occupational stress, and crisis recovery. The practice serves both civilian clients and members of the first responder and military communities.

His National Provider Identifier (NPI) number is 1386707768, consistent with his licensure and active clinical status.

World Trade Center Consultation

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, Lonski served as a consultant at the World Trade Center site, working with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to provide psychological support to workers engaged in the recovery and cleanup operations at Ground Zero. This work placed him at the center of one of the most psychologically demanding environments in recent American history, where workers faced prolonged exposure to human remains, environmental hazards, and the emotional weight of the disaster's aftermath.

The consultation role required both clinical skill and the ability to deliver mental health interventions in a non-traditional, high-pressure environment. Lonski's work at the site informed his later advocacy and research on the long-term psychological consequences of disaster response work, and contributed directly to the policy testimony he would deliver before Congress several years later.

Life Matters, Inc.

In 2002, Lonski co-founded Life Matters, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated with the Employer Identification Number (EIN) 02-0602210. The organization's mission is to provide mental health support, crisis counseling, and psychological education to firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical technicians, military personnel, veterans, and individuals affected by the September 11 attacks and other traumatic events.

Within Life Matters, Lonski serves as Director of Education, Training, and Clinical Services. In this role, he oversees the organization's clinical programming, develops training curricula for mental health professionals working with first responder populations, and coordinates educational outreach efforts aimed at reducing the stigma around mental health care within occupational communities that historically underutilize such services.

Life Matters, Inc. has provided services to thousands of individuals across the tri-state area, offering individual counseling, group therapy, critical incident stress debriefings, and community education programs. The organization has worked in partnership with fire departments, police departments, and veterans' service organizations to extend its reach to populations that face elevated risks of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and substance use disorders as a result of their occupational exposures.

Congressional Testimony

On September 8, 2004, Lonski testified before the United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations at a hearing titled "September 11th Health Issues." The hearing, part of the committee's oversight of the federal response to the ongoing health and psychological needs of September 11 first responders and survivors, brought together medical professionals, researchers, and advocates to document the scope of the crisis and call for sustained federal support.

In his testimony, Lonski drew on his direct clinical experience at the World Trade Center site and his work through Life Matters, Inc. to describe the psychological burden carried by first responders and recovery workers in the years following the attacks. He addressed the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and grief-related conditions in these populations, and called on Congress to recognize the long-term mental health needs of the community as a legitimate and urgent public health concern requiring dedicated resources and sustained programmatic support.

The testimony represented a significant moment in national efforts to bring first responder mental health onto the federal policy agenda, contributing to ongoing Congressional discussion that would ultimately lead to expanded support for the 9/11 responder community through legislation including the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

Current Work

Lonski continues to maintain his clinical practice in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and his leadership role at Life Matters, Inc. His work encompasses direct clinical service, professional training, and advocacy within the first responder and veteran mental health communities. He has worked alongside his wife, Evelyn Llewellyn, who also holds a Ph.D. in psychology, in building and sustaining their shared commitment to mental health practice.

Personal Life

Lonski resides in Old Greenwich, Connecticut. His wife, Evelyn Llewellyn, Ph.D., is also a licensed psychologist. The two share a professional background in clinical psychology and have both dedicated their careers to mental health practice. The Old Greenwich community, situated in the coastal western Connecticut town of Greenwich, has served as the base for both their professional practice and community engagement work.

Recognition

Lonski's invitation to testify before the United States House of Representatives in 2004 reflects the recognition he received from the policy community as an authoritative clinical voice on the psychological consequences of the September 11 attacks and their aftermath. His selection for that role indicated the standing he had achieved within the intersection of crisis psychology, first responder advocacy, and public policy.

Through Life Matters, Inc., Lonski has also been recognized within the first responder community for his sustained commitment to providing mental health services to populations that are often reluctant to seek care due to occupational culture and stigma. The organization's longevity -- more than two decades of operation since its 2002 founding -- reflects the durability of the work he and his co-founders built.