Michelle Kagel

Your relationship is tense, you're walking on eggshells, and nobody seems to understand what the hell you need. Or maybe you're the one who's always fine—until you're suddenly not.

Hi, I'm Michelle. I'm a therapist who specializes in relationship stress, people-pleasing, and the anxiety that comes with trying to hold it all together. I work particularly well with people who are either overly analytical and "don't do feelings," or who are feeling all the feelings but don't know what all to do with them.

My background is unusual—I started in entertainment, moved into education, and eventually earned master's degree from Thomas Jefferson University in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2015. Over my 10 years as a clinician, and throughout my varied career, I keep meeting smart, ambitious people who were great at solving everyone else's problems but quietly wrestling with their own. If that sounds familiar, you're exactly who I love working with.

I see patterns in relationships the way profilers solve mysteries in Criminal Minds. I'm curious, direct, and collaborative—not here to judge or hand out cookie-cutter advice. Instead, I'll help you figure out what you actually want, why certain patterns keep showing up, and how to make changes that stick.

My style is warm but with a little edge. I'll make jokes, quote movies, and occasionally swear, because therapy doesn't have to feel like sitting in a stuffy office whispering about your feelings. I do well with clients navigating morally gray or complicated areas of life—the messy stuff where there are no easy answers.

Depending on your needs, we might use Emotionally Focused Therapy, Internal Family Systems, or Master Conflict Theory, but we'll always go with what feels right for you. And here's the thing: there isn't a kind of therapy I do with my clients that I haven't also experienced myself. I think it's only ethical to have walked the walk if we're going to talk the talk.

Nobody's in the best place when they're meeting a new therapist, so my goal is to set you at ease. We'll talk about what brought you here (virtual or in person), what has and hasn't worked so far, and what you're hoping from our work together. I'll ask questions to make sure I understand what you're after, then share some possible treatment options. You'll have the chance to ask me anything you'd like—I believe the more you know, the better therapy will go.

I always offer a free initial consult phone consultation so all it will cost you is your time.