(she/her)
New to Grow
Hello! My name is Michelle Elert, a Licensed Professional Counselor, specializing in Substance Use and Anxiety. I specialize in helping high-achieving individuals navigate the complex relationship between anxiety and substance use. I work with clients who exist in the "gray area" of substances—where you may not need a detox center, but you know your relationship with substances is no longer serving you. I won't just nod and listen; I will actively help you build a toolkit to handle life’s stressors with clarity and confidence. You deserve a life where you don't just "get through" the week—you actually enjoy it. Let’s break the cycle of anxiety and shame together.
Before we have our first session, we will meet to get to know each other. During this meeting, I will ask you to tell me what you would like me to know about what has been going on that is bringing you to therapy at this time. Your comfort, your sense of safety and trust are essential to the work we are able to do. It is important that you find a therapist who you connect with. I like to think of this first meeting as a "vibe check"- are we a good fit? You are interviewing me just as much as I am interviewing you. Ask all the questions!
Authenticity, compassion and choice are my co-therapists. I am a jeans and t-shirt, visible tattoos, gentle but, no bs type of therapist. I honor and respect your power to choose how you change. I will be there to champion alongside you whatever stage of change you are at, while also pointing out how you just might be standing in your own way. You will leave sessions with actionable skills and strategies to help you meet the goals you have for yourself without relying on substances.