Michele Gardner

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing therapy to adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship challenges, life transitions, and feelings of overwhelm or disconnection. My style is warm, collaborative, and down-to-earth. I believe therapy works best when people feel safe enough to show up as themselves without fear of judgment.

My background includes work in both community mental health and private practice settings. I especially enjoy working with people who are highly self-aware but still find themselves feeling emotionally stuck, burned out, anxious, or disconnected from themselves and others.

I aim to create a space where clients can slow down, deepen self-understanding, and develop more sustainable ways of coping and relating.

My approach to therapy is collaborative, relational, and tailored to each person’s needs. I don’t believe therapy should feel overly rigid or one-size-fits-all. Some sessions may focus on processing emotions and past experiences, while others may focus on practical coping tools, patterns in relationships, nervous system regulation, or navigating current stressors.

I often integrate insight-oriented therapy with more experiential and body-aware approaches to help clients move beyond just intellectually understanding their struggles and toward actually feeling and creating change. I value curiosity, authenticity, humor, and creating a space where clients feel genuinely seen and understood.

Above all, I view therapy as a place to build a healthier relationship with yourself, not just manage symptoms.

The first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and begin building a sense of comfort and connection. We’ll talk about what’s bringing you to therapy, what’s been feeling difficult, and what you hope might change or feel different over time.

I also want to understand you as a whole person, not just a list of symptoms. That means exploring your background, relationships, stressors, strengths, and the patterns that may be shaping your current experience. There’s no pressure to share everything immediately, and you don’t need to have the “right” words prepared beforehand.

My goal is to create an environment that feels supportive, thoughtful, and collaborative so we can begin identifying what might be most helpful for you moving forward.