Hi, I'm Michele. I hope to meet you. It can be overwhelming to find a therapist who is a good fit - made harder when you may already be overwhelmed by the very reason you are seeking therapy in the first place! I know, I’ve been on the other side myself as a client. As a clinician, I partner with you to learn what your goals are for therapy. It’s very important to me that you feel seen, heard and understood; this trusting relationship is the foundation of therapy. I came to this work during mid-life, after years in the private sector in consulting and software high-tech, which gives me a unique perspective. My own experiences with mid-life and navigating life's challenges, and losses have inspired my focus to support adults through difficult times; these dark times are often when we have the opportunity to grow and evolve if we pay attention! I bring a strength-based framework to my practice, encouraging us to get curious about what's working, what's right with you. While we work together to build self-awareness and gain insights, the hard work of therapy is often outside the therapy session: making adjustments, building coping skills, setting boundaries, focusing on what's in our control, practicing new habits/behaviors, so we can stay engaged in life. Talk therapy will only take you so far, and often it is the supportive space that is needed during a challenging phase of life. I find most clients need more - relief - and that comes from you, as the client, being willing to roll up your sleeves and try things that might be out of your comfort zone; in that way, I see myself as your Coach, to encourage you and follow up on the work.
It usually takes 1-2 sessions at first to get to know each other, to see if it's a good fit. You, as the client, are in charge - you get to decide as well whether it seems like the partnership you want to explore. Like any relationship, it is organic and changing, but it has to feel supportive and trusting in those first two sessions. The first session is me, as provider, asking more questions to understand you and your goals. I find that clients often come to therapy with goals that may need re-visiting over time, as something else may reveal itself as a higher priority, and that's okay.
Prior to private practice, I worked as a therapist in schools supporting students and families; and in hospice, primarily bereavement and grief counseling. I bring almost fifteen years of pre-therapy work (in the private sector) to my practice which has given me a unique perspective, and I understand the demands and challenges of the business world. I've been practicing in private practice for the last four years.
Parents, young adults, adults in transition, navigating family challenges, health issues, aging parents, mood issues (depression, anxiety), stress management, habit change
I am a Level 1 TEAM (Dr. David Burns) CBT Certified provider. CBT explores our thinking and automatic thoughts to understand how they impact our feelings and behaviors. We feel and experience the world based on our thinking.
Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is an action-oriented approach that stems from traditional behavior therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. Clients learn to stop avoiding, denying, and struggling with their inner emotions and thoughts and, instead, accept that these deeper feelings are appropriate responses to certain situations that should not prevent them from moving forward in their lives. With this understanding, clients begin to accept their hardships and commit to making necessary changes in their behavior, regardless of what is going on in their lives and how they feel about it.
Mindfulness is a used term these days in the Western world, though, its origins have roots in Buddhist philosophy. I have studied some aspects of Buddhism, Jon Kabat-Zinn's work in MBSR and more recently Loving Kindness meditation. I, myself, am "walking the talk", as they say, and growing my Mindfulness meditation practice. The benefits are real, science-based. When we can harness our focus and attention and become aware of our thinking (meta-cognition) and how it affects our suffering; this is a skill that we can use in all areas of our life, for a lifetime!