Michelle Parker

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with extensive experience helping adults navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, relationship difficulties, life transitions, and concerns related to alcohol use. I especially enjoy working with clients who may appear capable and successful on the outside but feel overwhelmed, stuck, anxious, or disconnected from themselves.

My style is warm, conversational, nonjudgmental, and straightforward. I believe therapy works best when you feel comfortable being yourself rather than feeling like you have to say the “right” thing in session. My goal is to understand both what you are struggling with and who you are as a person so that therapy feels relevant to your life.

I am a former graduate school professor for masters level professional counseling students. My approach to counseling developed from my experiences in academia, hospital inpatient group therapy, and private practice. My approach is best described as person-centered, strengths-based, and practical. I incorporate principles from positive psychology, cognitive and behavioral approaches (including clinical hypnotherapy), trauma-informed therapy, mindfulness, and other evidence-based strategies depending on the needs of each client.

I don't believe there is one approach that works for everyone. Together, we look at patterns that may be keeping you stuck, better understand the experiences that shaped those patterns, and develop healthier ways of responding to stress, relationships, emotions, and difficult situations.

I have additional training in trauma, addiction, and clinical hypnosis, which has strengthened my understanding of how habits, emotions, and automatic patterns can influence behavior and change.

You can expect our sessions to be collaborative, supportive, and focused on meaningful change. I want you to leave therapy with more than insight alone. Over time, my goal is for you to understand yourself more clearly, feel more confident handling difficult emotions and situations, and develop practical ways to create the changes you want in your life.

Clients often appreciate having a therapist who will listen carefully while also offering feedback, perspective, and direction when it is helpful. Therapy should ultimately help you feel more capable of trusting yourself, making decisions, setting healthier boundaries, and moving forward with greater clarity.