Welcome! I am Reina Michelle, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who specializes in working with adults 18- 48 years old who are struggling with life transition problems. People with Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar disorder, Panic disorder, ADHD, and other problems that make life feel difficult is my specialty. I use evidence based therapies CBT, Solution Focused Therapy, Attachment Disorder, Narrative, and DBT among others to get to the heart of the problem and give you a variety of ways to help you get on track right away. I am licensed with 18 years of experience having received an MA degree in Counseling Psychology from JFK University in Campbell, CA. Life transitions and "Mid-life crisis" affects many people causing them stress, apathy, and depression. Addressing these issues early on with a health professional to guide you through them is a good way to start the recovery process. Don't lose precious time. Now is the time to work towards feeling your "best self" again.
In our first session we will discuss the issues that bring you to therapy and discuss your goals in order to find specific treatments to address your problems. Looking at one's family history is a good place to start by discussing where many problems may have originated from. In talking about some of your past experiences, important information may arise and we can discuss this and then go on to present issues. People are different and coming up with a specific "game plan" to find the best way to help you is important at this time. By understanding your history and future goals I can organize the best treatment options that will begin to help you. Working together is key to our success. I also teach communication skills to "individuals" to bring better understanding to their relationships with family and friends. I use teachings from John Gottman who is a specialist in couples therapy. I do not do couple counseling at this time but find that learning skills to better their communication has helped many people. Many men say that they have benefitted from these taught skills as some have learned in childhood not to express their feelings as it is "unmanly." This could not be further from the truth as so many couples are struggling with marriages that need to better communicate with each other. I often give homework in these instances in order to practice their new skills with their partners. Helping you to succeed in overcoming mental health challenges and developing healthy communication skills is my goal and I look forward to helping you meet the challenge.
I have had training in teaching "mindfulness" skills to bring calmness into the lives of busy people. I am certificated in DBT to help people who have anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. We are not all alike and using a combination of targeted methods can help make a difference in people's lives. My years of experience have taught me to listen carefully to my clients in order to help understand fully the issues that you come to therapy with. For many people it feels scary to begin therapy but that fades quickly as our working relationship builds, creating strong bonds with each other. Good therapy can make a positive difference in your life and help you to feel confident when relating to other people. I offer clients different perspectives in looking at their problems with understanding and the utmost respect for your feelings. Some people come to therapy wanting answers to solve their problems. Therapists have found that the client knows more about how to achieve this than the therapist does. You know more about yourself and what will work for you than others do! I give many possible ideas for solutions that may work but ultimately you know what will work best for you and make the choice. I look forward to helping you as the "co-pilot" in resolving your conflicts and help you move on to a more positive and healthier life.
I work with "individuals" between the ages of 18-49 years old, finding that people in this age group are open-minded and willing to make positive changes in their lives. I have had success working with men teaching them better ways to express themselves and sustain better relationships at home and with others. I am not practicing marriage counseling at this time, but help individuals to learn communication skills that they can use to improve their marriages and family relationships. It takes practice using these tools and I sometimes give homework assignments in order to make these changes "stick," becoming a natural part of their everyday lives. I work with pioneer John Gottman's evidence-based methods to achieve this goal. He has been helping people for decades to achieve better communication in their relationships. I work with people who have Bipolar and Mood Disorders helping them to take control of their lives. I have found that Mindfulness training, distress tolerance, and emotional regulation skills (DBT) have helped people bring order and a sense of meaning into their lives.
Anxiety
Bipolar Disorder
Depression
ADHD
Insomnia/Sleep Issues
LGBTQ
White
Woman
Adults (18 to 64)
California
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT when it is beneficial for the client. CBT is based on the idea that how we think (cognition), how we feel (emotion) and how we act (behavior) all interact together. Specifically, our thoughts determine our feelings and our behavior. It is useful in helping people with many kinds of problems such as anxiety, depression, and many others.
Attachment-based
I have had additional training helping people with attachment disorder from childhood experiences where there was a lack of connection between parent and child relationships that has caused serious problems throughout people's lives. This can be addressed and people can overcome this disorder and live a more stress-free life.
Person-centered (Rogerian)
Person-centered therapy also known as Rogerian therapy can assist people in finding solutions to their problems. The therapist is supportive in this model but non-authoritative, and the client takes the lead in each session. The therapist's expertise is secondary to the client's ability to solve their own problems. The therapists job is to collaborate, empathize, and help you to make better choices in your life's decisions. You know yourself better than anyone else does and we are here to support you.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
Solution Focused Brief Therapy is for clients that want to look forward and not back into their history. Clients looking for a quick help method in solving their issues or in conjunction with other methodologies. It can be useful and effective.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I have worked with people teaching meditation skills that I have learned from studying Zen Buddhism. I have been teaching these skills for years and have had success in treating depression and anxiety.
2 ratings with written reviews
December 5, 2025
Reina is a wonderful therapist and I'm grateful I found her. She's easy to talk to, understanding, and warm. I always look forward to talking with her, and I come away feeling more clear headed and understood as a person. I've seen progress for myself and have much more hope for myself thanks to her. :)
March 1, 2025
It was easy to talk to Reina. I enjoy her style. Kind and empathetic.