Meet Michelle
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Natonal Certified Counselor, Board Certified TeleMental Health Provider
You want things to change, but you’re not sure where to start.
Change is about choice and action.
I’m going to help you sort through what to keep and what to change.
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Challenge you
Support you
Point out your strengths and build on them
Help you figure out what serves you and what doesn’t
Choosing a therapist is an emotional decision.
You want to feel comfortable with the person you’re talking to in your most vulnerable moments. I’m not the kind of therapist who just tells you what to do. Clients describe me as someone who speaks the words they need to hear in gentle ways. I describe myself as someone who doesn’t hesitate to call you out when you’re self-sabotaging, but does so with empathy and tact.
My clients want tools that will help them take that leap from beign stuck in old patterns that haven’t worked to feeling good about trying new ways. I know how to present those tools with conviction and compassion. I’m told I put a lot of heart into my work, and that it comes across in my sessions.
Finding A Therapist
Am I the right therapist for you?
We are a good fit if:
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You live with stress and anxiety every single day, and you want to learn how to manage them better. You've read a lot about coping skills, but you’ve tried to work them into your life and you haven’t been successful. You want a therapist who can help you find confidence, self-efficacy, and peace-of-mind.
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Is taking something or drinking something your go-to coping skill? Do you wonder sometimes if you’d recognize the signs and symptoms that it’s become a problem for you?
Or maybe you've been in recovery from addiction for a while, but it seems like the only thing that's changed is that you're not using. That’s not enough anymore. You want to feel better about yourself. You want a therapist who knows how to take your recovery to the next level.
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You believe in spending time on personal growth and self-improvement, but you want to balance challenging yourself with self-compassion. It feels like you’ve forgotten who you are and why you should get up in the morning. You’re hoping therapy will give you the push you need to move forward.
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You need a safe place to practice your interpersonal skills, critical thinking skills, and recovery skills so you can connect what you learn in therapy with how to use it in the real world. You want a therapist who will role play with you and get you to the point where therapy is a choice and not a necessity.
Our Focus in Therapy
We are going to shift the focus from what you feel is wrong with you to what is already right.
That doesn’t mean we are going to ignore your problems or deny the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that cause trouble in your life. It means we are not going to obsess about them.
We are going to focus on solutions.
Choice is your superpower. Take control of your well-being.
Are you a detail person?
Here’s the nitty gritty on my training, education, and credentials.
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Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), State of Florida. See my license.
National Certified Counselor (NCC), National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc.
Board-Certified TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH), Center for Credentialing & Education
Ongoing Education
I maintain my license and certifications with continuing education throughout the year. Feel free to look at the log of professional counseling workshops I have attended recently.
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Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), Evergreen Certifications
Certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (C-DBT), Evergreen Certifications
SFBT Diamond Level 1 Certification, The Solution Focused Universe
Working with Trauma: Digital Credential, Mental Health Academy
TeleMental Health Training Certificate (THTC) from Telehealth Certification Institute
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Doctoral Candidate, Instructional Design and Technology, Nova Southeastern University. Expected graduation: December 2025.
2017 MA, Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media, Nova Southeastern University
2012 MS, Mental Health Counseling, Nova Southeastern University
1993 BA, Social Psychology, Florida Atlantic University
1993 Women's Studies Certificate, Florida Atlantic University
1991 AA, Psychology, Palm Beach Junior College
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Doctoral Candidate, Instructional Design and Technology, Nova Southeastern University. Expected graduation: December, 2025
IDOL courses Academy® Level 2: Instructional Designer, IDOL courses Academy. 2021
Storyline® for IDOLs®: Articulate Storyline® Skilled, IDOL courses Academy. 2021
IDOL courses Academy®: Learning Designer Credential, IDOL courses Academy. 2022
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I graduated with my mental health counseling degree in 2012. Back when I was in school, I was required to complete a year-long practicum at a treatment site. This practicum is analogous to a doctor going through a residency. As a counselor-to-be, I was placed at a substance use treatment facility where it was my privilege to witness the spirit and courage of people fighting addiction, stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. There is a flow to recovery - a process that is noble and humbling and beautiful to watch. I chose to specialize in addiction recovery, stress & anxiety, and personal growth in my private practice because I wanted to look forward to going to work every day. I get to watch the most incredible transformations happen for people through this work, and it is easy to be passionate about my job.
Aside from the counseling profession, my favorite jobs were:
Over 20 years as a licensed nail technician because I got to talk to people all day and make them feel special and cared for
Two years as a trade school educator because I got to empower adults seeking new or second careers
Working as a PBX switchboard operator and receptionist because I got to help people make connections
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Gould, M. R. (2020). Collegiate recovery programs: Stepping up to meet the need for distance service support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Distance Learning Journal, 17(3), 1-15.
Profile of the adaptations made by collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) to continue vital student support services online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gould, M. R. (2020). Thank You for Letting Me Share. In C. Lutkewitte, Writing in a Technological World, (pp. 345-353). Routledge.
Guide to Netiquette and intellectual property rights on social media.
Gould, M. R. (2015). Resources for students with disabilities. The Current. Nova Southeastern University.
Information on university resources for students with physical disabilities.
Gould, M. R. (1996-2002). Contributing Editor. Nailpro Magazine.
50+ business articles on technique/skills, customer service, career advancement, sales, management, careers, salon & product critique, research & design, manufacturing, trends, education, licensing, marketing, and income. Published in 14 countries in English, German, and Russian.
Let’s get started.
