LMHC, 8 years of experience
New to Grow
Welcome! I'm Michelle. COMPASSIONATE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING I provide evidence-based therapy for individuals seeking support with mental health concerns and life challenges. You don't need a crisis to benefit from counseling—therapy is a powerful tool for personal growth, emotional wellness, and building the life you want. Whether you're navigating life transitions, relationship difficulties, work stress, grief, or simply want to understand yourself better, I'm here to help. My goal is to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings, gain clarity, and develop practical skills to improve your quality of life. MY CREDENTIALS & SPECIALIZATIONS As a nationally certified, licensed mental health counselor and qualified supervisor in Florida (LMHC-QS, NCC), I specialize in: General Mental Health: Depression, anxiety, trauma (PTSD), relationship issues, stress management, self-esteem, grief and loss, personality disorders, and emotional regulation. SPECIALIZED SERVICES: Anger management, substance use and relapse prevention, problematic sexual behaviors, sexual offending behaviors, and community reintegration. COURT-MANDATED COUNSELING: I work with individuals referred by the legal system who are ready to take responsibility and make meaningful changes. My role isn't to judge you—it's to support you in meeting legal expectations while creating lasting personal growth. MY APPROACH I use person-centered, evidence-based methods including CBT, DBT, Narrative Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to help you understand yourself, build coping skills, and move toward a better future. No matter what brings you here, you deserve the opportunity to grow and move forward. Let's get started.
Your first session is about connection and understanding. We'll explore what's bringing you to therapy, what you're hoping to change or understand, and what your life looks like right now. You don't need to arrive with all the answers—part of what we'll do together is make sense of where you are and clarify where you want to go. We'll discuss your goals, any previous therapy experiences, and what would make this process feel safe and helpful for you. If certain topics feel too vulnerable to share right away, that's completely normal. We move at your pace, always. This session is also your opportunity to experience how I work and determine whether we're a good match. Therapy works best when the relationship feels right, and you're entitled to that sense of comfort and trust. Remember: you're the expert on your own life. I'm here to offer support, insight, and tools as you explore, heal, and create the future you're working toward.
My Philosophy You already have wisdom within you—sometimes you just need support uncovering it. I don't claim to have all the answers, but I can walk alongside you as we discover what works for your life. My role is to help you tap into your own strength and clarity. I work with people navigating all kinds of challenges: life-changing trauma or loss, the complexities of the legal system (including after serious criminal or sexual offenses), overwhelming emotions that feel impossible to manage, relationship struggles and the desire for deeper connection, sexual concerns and the pursuit of a more fulfilling intimate life, or that persistent feeling of being stuck—far from the life you once imagined. The weight of these experiences can feel unbearable when you're carrying it alone. You don't have to. Therapy offers a space where we can make sense of what feels senseless, find direction when you feel lost, and take meaningful steps forward—together, at your pace. You deserve support. You deserve the chance to heal, grow, and build the life you want.
Adult men, adult women, couples, justice involved, individuals with criminal offense histories, problematic sexual behaviors, sexual offending behaviors, personality disorders, offender to community transitions.
As a licensed mental health counselor with national certification, I've used CBT, Narrative Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing extensively across diverse clinical presentations—from depression, anxiety, and trauma to anger management, substance use, and behavioral concerns. I work with both voluntary clients seeking personal growth and court-mandated individuals working toward accountability and change. HOW I INTEGRATE THESE APPROACHES I don't rely on a single therapeutic method. Instead, I integrate CBT, Narrative Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing (along with DBT techniques) to create a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to you. With CBT, I help you identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns while building practical skills for emotional regulation and behavior change. Through NARRATIVE THERAPY, I work with you to explore and reframe the stories you tell about yourself and your life. We examine how these narratives shape your identity and choices, and we work together to rewrite limiting stories into ones that empower you and align with your values. Using MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, I honor your autonomy and meet you wherever you are in your readiness for change. Rather than pushing or lecturing, I help you explore your own reasons for change, resolve ambivalence, and build internal motivation that creates lasting transformation. MY THERAPEUTIC STYLE I believe therapy works best when it's collaborative, not prescriptive. In our work together, I'll help you: Recognize automatic negative thoughts and cognitive distortions that keep you stuck Reframe your personal narrative to reclaim your sense of agency and purpose Explore your own motivations and values to fuel meaningful change Develop evidence-based coping strategies you can use in real-world situations Set concrete, achievable goals that align with what matters to you Practice new skills between sessions through homework and behavioral experiments WHAT MAKES MY APPROACH DIFFERENT I balance structure with flexibility. While these evidence-based methods provide a proven framework, I adapt them to your unique situation, readiness for change, and personal strengths. Whether you're dealing with a specific mental health diagnosis, navigating court requirements, or simply want to understand yourself better, I meet you where you are—without judgment—and help you build the life you want. My goal isn't just symptom reduction; it's lasting change that improves your quality of life and helps you become the author of your own story.