Services

Therapy can provide a safe and accepting environment to explore your inner thoughts, feelings, and beliefs. Together with Michelle, you will uncover what obstacles are getting in the way of you experiencing more satisfying relationships with others.

By deepening your self-awareness you will gain greater insight and understanding thus allowing you to make choices that better serve your needs and hopes. Michelle works with children 11+, teens, adults, seniors, couples, families, and individuals.

Treatment Approach

• Coaching
• Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
• Culturally Sensitive
• Family Systems
• Gestalt
• Gottman Method
• Mindfulness-Based (MBCT)
• Positive Psychology
• Strength-Based
• Trauma Focused

Specialties

• Grief and Loss
• Relationships
• Trauma
• Stress/Burnout

* See full list below.

Workshops / Trainings / Retreats

I specialize in helping people identify and achieve their personal goals by coping with the issues that are causing them distress, stress, burnout or compassion fatigue. I take great pride in the progress and success of my clients, and look forward to helping you.

Download Sample Topics Sheet (PDF)

Grief Research Key Findings: 

• A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found that early intervention within the first 6-12 months of bereavement significantly reduces prolonged grief symptoms and improves overall mental health outcomes (Kaiser et al., 2022).

• Research indicates that the initial period following a loss is critical for providing support to the bereaved.  The first three months after the death of someone close is busy and intense, and individual therapy/support is the treatment recommended.  A study published in BMC Palliative Care found that bereavement groups were particularly beneficial when attended shortly (greater than 3 months) after the loss, with their effectiveness diminishing over time. This suggests that early intervention can be more impactful in addressing acute grief (Näppä et al., 2020).

• Additionally, a review published by the American Psychiatric Association found that certain individuals exhibit delayed grief responses, where intense grief reactions manifest long after the death, sometimes triggered by subsequent events or stressors (Applebaum & Yousif, 2022). This delayed onset further supports the need for extended eligibility periods for grief support services, as individuals may not seek help until years after the death. (Lichtenthal et al., 2011).

• Lastly, a literature review highlighted that supportive group therapy aims to improve patients’ immediate adaptation to their life situation by providing a climate of support and problem-solving techniques. This approach helps individuals share experiences and receive praise for coping efforts, facilitating better adjustment during the early stages of grief (Para, 2009).   When groups are not available to the client, these goals can also be addressed in individual or family counseling.