Michelle Carter
I’m a seasoned LICSW/LCSW with decades of experience helping adults navigate anxiety, trauma, relationship patterns, and the emotional residue of difficult life experiences. My style is steady, warm, and practical—I blend CBT, DBT, solution focused and ACT modalities with deep insight work so clients can understand themselves clearly and make meaningful changes. I focus on helping people reduce overwhelm, build emotional resilience, and move through life with more clarity, calm and self‑trust.
First session
In our first session, you can expect a calm, steady, low‑pressure conversation. I’ll ask about what brought you to therapy, what’s been feeling overwhelming, heavy or misaligned and what you hope will feel different. We’ll clarify your goals, talk through what works for you (and what doesn’t), and begin building a plan that feels manageable and grounded. My role is to help you feel understood, supported, and moving in the direction of the goals you have for you.
Strengths
My strengths include practical problem‑solving, a commitment to supporting the healthy goals of those with whom I work and a personal, genuine understanding of many life stressors and experiences in need of navigation.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is an adult or teenager who wants a calm, steady space to understand themselves and their experiences more deeply. They may feel overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in old emotional patterns, and they’re looking for a therapist who is warm, attuned, and grounded. They value honest insight, gentle guidance, and practical tools that help them move through stress, transitions, and difficult emotions with more clarity and self‑trust. I work best with people who are reasonably ready to explore what’s underneath their struggles and make meaningful, sustainable changes in their lives.
Treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
With ACT, I focus on helping you clarify your values, what you want for you in your life and learn to respond to difficult emotions with more flexibility, instead of getting stuck in avoidance or overwhelm. In sessions, we explore what matters most to you, how your nervous system reacts under stress, and how to make choices that align with your values even when emotions are strong. I use ACT to help you build psychological flexibility, self‑compassion, and a sense of groundedness in your daily life.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
With CBT, I help clients notice the thoughts and interpretations that shape their emotions and behaviors. In sessions, we look at the patterns that show up during stress, conflict, or self‑criticism, and we explore how those thoughts influence how you feel and respond. I use CBT to help you challenge unhelpful beliefs, build more balanced ways of thinking, and practice small, practical changes that make daily life feel more manageable.
Exposure Response Prevention (ERP)
With DBT‑informed work, I help you build skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and healthier communication. In sessions, we practice grounding techniques, explore triggers, and develop tools you can use when emotions feel intense or overwhelming. I use DBT to help you stay more centered during difficult moments, respond rather than react, and create more stability in your relationships and daily life.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
With DBT‑informed work, I help you build skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and healthier communication. In sessions, we practice grounding techniques, explore triggers, and develop tools you can use when emotions feel intense or overwhelming. I use DBT to help you stay more centered during difficult moments, respond rather than react, and create more stability in your relationships and daily life.
Location
Virtual sessions