Skip to main content
Headway
Headshot of Michelle Waters, LMFT

Michelle Waters

Therapist
17 years of experience
  • Virtual
  • Anxiety, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Relationship issues, PTSD
  • Individual therapy, Family therapy

Great to meet you!

If you're carrying anxiety, depression, grief, or old wounds that keep shaping how you see yourself, you don't have to sort through it alone. I'm a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 17 years of experience, and I work with teens through older adults navigating loss, divorce, aging, trauma, and substance use. Wherever you're starting from, my goal is to meet you there — with respect for your story and without judgment.

My approach to therapy

We'll work together as partners, tailoring everything to your history, strengths, and goals rather than a one-size-fits-all plan. I draw on practical tools from CBT to quiet negative self-talk, and solution-focused work to build momentum on what matters to you now. Along the way, we'll explore the roots of patterns — in your relationships and in how you treat yourself — so change actually lasts. I see a diagnosis as a tool to guide our work, never a label that defines you.

What you can expect from me

Expect a relaxed, welcoming conversation — no pressure to have it all figured out. We'll talk about what's bringing you in, what you'd like to be different, and what feeling stable and hopeful would look like for you. From there, we'll shape a path forward together, at a pace that feels right to you.

About me

  • I identify as
    Caucasian, Woman
  • My style is
    Open Minded, Inquisitive, Warm

Qualification and insurance

  • Years of experience
    17 years of experience
  • Training
    MC (Masters in Counseling) at California State University, Bakersfield, Masters in Counseling
  • License type
    LMFT (Licensed Marriage/Family Therapist) (California)
  • Licensed in
  • Insurance accepted
    Aetna, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Carelon Behavioral Health, Cigna

Cost

Care details

  • Top specialties
    Anxiety, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Relationship issues, PTSD
  • More specialties
    ADD/ADHD, OCD, Stress management, Anger management, Panic disorders, End of life care, Grief or loss, Women's issues, Trauma
  • Therapy methods
    Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Narrative Therapy, Positive Psychology, Humanistic, Cognitive Behavioral (CBT), Problem-Solving Therapy (PST), Brief Dynamic, Motivational Interviewing, Behavior Modification, Trauma Focused CBT, Relational, Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), Behavior Management, Bowen Family Systems, Behavioral
  • Care types
    Individual therapy, Family therapy
  • Ages served
    Adults, Adolescents, Seniors
  • Languages
    English