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Michael Gardiner Bayer (born September 19, 1979), known as “Coach Mike”, is a professional personal development coach who has assisted numerous families, executives, and artists by empowering them to break free of destructive patterns and cycles. He is chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of CAST Centers. Bayer is also an expert contributor to the Dr. Phil show.

Early life
Bayer was born in Long Beach, California. He is the son of Ronald Bayer and Aina Gardiner. He grew up with his older brother David, and older sister Katie in Orange County, CA. He graduated from Mater Dei High School, a co-educational secondary school in Santa Ana, California in 1999. He was a basketball player for Mater Dei High School.

Education and early career
Bayer graduated with his B.S. in Alcohol and Drug Counseling from Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Minnesota in 2003. His certifications included California Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (CADC II) and Board Registered Interventionist (BRI II). Bayer completed his residency at the Hazelden Foundation. He was a Resident Advisor at Twin Town Treatment Centers, working night shifts. Afterward, Bayer spent half a decade in the field, becoming one of the leading interventionists in the United States. He has conducted over one thousand interventions.

Career
In 2006, Bayer founded CAST Centers, a mental health and addiction treatment center based in West Hollywood, CA. He built up a network of professional support, including doctors, psychologists, counselors, and instructors, to help clients heal and improve their mental health, emotional health, and overall well-being. His organization offers wellness services including, but not limited to, anxiety, depression, addiction, bipolar disorder, trauma/PTSD and dual-diagnosis.

A little more than a decade later, in 2017, Bayer continues to promote his message of living the best version of one's self, which ultimately lead to the creation of the CAST Foundation. The CAST Foundation, is a non-profit organization whose mission includes raising awareness, promoting cultural, and social changes, to break the stigma of mental health issues. Through the CAST Foundation, Bayer organized free events that brings individuals into a safe space to listen to inspiring stories of recovery, and to receive help.

In April 2018, Bayer, also known as “Coach Mike”, became a regular expert contributor to the Dr. Phil show. He has also joined the Dr. Phil Advisory Board, consisting of a national association of healthcare professionals.

Approach
With the belief that we all have the answers and power to change within ourselves, Bayer guides his clients with a blend of exploration and problem-solving strategies, thereby challenging and encouraging them to live empowered lives.