Michelle Shim profile image

Michelle Shim

Michelle Shim

LPCC
4 years of experience
Challenging
Humorous
Authentic
Virtual

Hey thereI I'm Michelle, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, treating Asian American adults from the ages of 18-35 in the state of California. I mainly do talk therapy and my approach comes from a holistic lens. I've been a therapist for about 4 years and I meet with clients through teletherapy only. My clients have told me about the ways they've grown in their self-awareness and have felt empowered to take control of their unique challenges within relationships.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In your first session with me, you can expect me to be professional, friendly, humorous, and thorough in my assessment with you. I will ask about your social, biological, spiritual, educational, medical, and psychological history as I prioritize a holistic approach. I am passionate about creating a trusting relationship with my clients and keeping sessions as a space that feels collaborative- so talking about your wants or expectations from therapy is important to me in the first session. I will also review administrative or "housekeeping" details to help make therapy an effective space for you.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

I have been effective at helping clients 'connect-the-dots' and identify the root causes of your problems- under all the layers. It takes time to get to, and understanding that process takes patience. I prioritize making clients feel safe and comfortable, laughing with them, crying with them, and seeing them and accepting them for who they are IN the moment. I can also be helpful in keeping you accountable for your actions, as the growth outside of therapy is really what makes change.

About Michelle Shim

Licensed in

Accepts

Appointments

Free consults, virtual

My treatment methods

Psychoeducation

I believe that educating you about how your thinking, experiences, and emotions and how they impact your experiences can change our insight and awareness towards ourselves. I enjoy modeling new ways to set culturally-sensitive boundaries within your relationships that help you feel safe.

Person-centered (Rogerian)

I will treat you as the expert of your own life, assuming that you are fully capable of your own growth and that your experiences in therapy are about how much you put into them.

Acceptance and commitment (ACT)

I will hold your values close to our treatment and use them as foundations in helping you guide decisions that build a more fulfilling life, not by changing your outcomes but accepting them.

Christian Counseling

'Churchy' talk isn't how we go about our treatment, but our treatment may mainly include understanding of your faith and discussions about how faith plays a role in your inner life, relationships, and boundaries.

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

Identifying and challenging your negative core beliefs through examining evidence, creating healthy coping tools, and developing new beliefs about yourself or the world around you.