Meet Michelle
I’m a North Carolina native and grew up near the center of the state. I spent time in the Triad (Winston-Salem & Greensboro) for college and through my 20s & early 30s, and moved back toward the Triangle (Chapel Hill area) in 2017.
Path to Becoming a Mental Health Counselor
My journey to my current work was a somewhat winding road. I worked in non-clinical mentorship roles with youth and young adults in various capacities for 10+ years after completing my undergraduate studies. Many of the folks I mentored shared their struggles with me based on the relationship we had formed, and I began realizing the need for additional training in helping these folks navigate mental health concerns.
One of my mentorship roles involved working in vocational ministry with college students. Through my own experience with spiritual abuse and religious trauma, in addition to my growing desire to serve folks in a different way, I made some tough decisions that took me in a new direction.
In 2013, I decided to make a career shift by pursuing a graduate degree in mental health counseling and beginning a path of providing support to folks in a different way as a licensed mental health counselor.
I specialize in providing counseling in the following areas: Spiritual Abuse / Religious Trauma, Body Image Concerns, and Late-Identified Neurodivergence. I also provide support to those who are dealing with anxiety, grief, depression, relational difficulties, and life transitions.
Religious Trauma Counseling
Trauma occurs when an event, one-time or ongoing, overwhelms our ability to respond. Religious trauma occurs when our ability to respond is overwhelmed in a religious or spiritual setting. How someone responds to trauma has far more to do with their individual nervous system than with the specifics of the event. That’s why not everyone experiences an event the same.
I work with folks who have experienced religious trauma, spiritual abuse, or other troubling experiences in a religious / spiritual context. Many of my clients have spent years of their life within a high-control religion, leading to experiences of shame and difficulty making decisions.
Our work may include learning how to calm your nervous system, gaining understanding around the impact of your experience, grieving the losses that may be part of your experience, and determining what you want your religious and/or spiritual journey to look like moving forward.
To learn more about religious trauma and my work, you may want to visit my Religious Trauma Counseling page or read the following blog posts:
Body Image Counseling
Folks who work with me to address their religious trauma or spiritual abuse are able to feel more free in their identity and how they show up in the world.
Pressure to look a certain way is prominent in US society. Diet culture. Anti-fat bias. Fad diets. Weight loss injectables. Many of the folks I work with have experience with trying to change their body and being impacted by poor body image. Another common concern among clients is difficulty being fully present in their body – it’s common to hear comments like “I live life in my head. My body just holds it up. Like I’m just a head floating through life.”
My work to address body image concerns often includes learning to separate the messages of diet culture from facts, to combat shame associated with poor body image, and to experience overall improvement in your relationship with your body and food. I work from a non-diet and weight-inclusive approach. We only discuss weight when my clients choose to do so.
To learn more, you may want to visit my Body Image Counseling page or read the following blog posts:
Neurodivergent-Affirming Counseling
“Neurodivergent” is a term used to describe brains that function differently than what is considered typical within a particular context. The neurodivergent umbrella includes things such as Autism, ADHD, OCD, Dyslexia, and cPTSD, as well as a multitude of other brain differences.
As a person with lived experience of being late-identified autistic, I am aware of the struggles that can come with feeling like everyone else was given the instruction manual for life while you’re floundering around trying to figure things out. My work with clients includes being willing to adjust our approach to best meet the various needs each individual brings to the relationship, including those needs or preferences related to being neurodivergent.
I also offer Neuro-Affirming Assessments for ADHD and Autism for adults (18+) in NC. This can be a great option if you are exploring your own possible neurodivergent identity. Learn more about Assessment options here.
To learn more about Neurodivergent-Affirming Counseling, you may want to visit my Neurodivergent-Affirming Counseling page or read the following blog posts:
Approach to Therapy
My approach to therapy is client-centered, meaning that the focus is on supporting you! We work together to create a space that feels comfortable for you to talk about your concerns and identify where you want to make changes. I believe that you are the expert on your experience, and my role is to use my clinical skills to assist you in your journey.
I believe that ALL people deserve respect, compassion, and access to quality care. I actively strive to be anti-racist and LGBTQ+ affirming in my life and therapy practice. I seek out continuing education focused on working with folks from a culturally competent lens.
Overall, my approach to therapy is eclectic and dependent on each individual client’s needs and goals, but I draw from the following modalities:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Attachment Theory
- Parts Work / Internal Family Systems
- Mindfulness
- Narrative Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR trained)
- Brainspotting (Level 1 trained)
Education & Credentials
- Wake Forest University – 2002 – B.A. in Religion/Psychology
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro – 2016 – M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- NCC – National Certified Counselor
- LCMHC – Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in NC (#12491)
- BC-TMH – Board-Certified Telemental Health Provider (#3334)
- NBCC Approved Continuing Education Provider (#7712)
Outside the “Office”
I enjoy seeking out (well planned) adventure in everyday life. Beginning at age 29, I started intentionally seeking out new experiences leading up to my next birthday (30 New Experiences Before Turning 30). This has included things like a hot air balloon ride over the Rockies and acting in a local theater’s production of “The Miss Firecracker Contest.” I also enjoy trying new cuisines, reading, checking out local events, and supporting local businesses.
Featured Blog Posts
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Get Started on Therapy Services with Michelle
Contact me to schedule your free, 15-minute virtual consultation.
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