Michelle is a bright, warm, receptive, fun loving, and caring clinician. She really enjoys witnessing clients grow and reach their goals. She is witty, charming, and brings forth a gentle yet direct approach. She has a plethora of experience working within family systems. She enjoys working with all aspects of family dynamics, and helps individuals, teens, families, and couples see their issues and concerns from multiple perspectives.
Michelle is unique in that she comes from a multi-cultural family giving her a depth of perspectives into the various values and experiences found in diverse communities of color. She integrates these experiences by breaking through the barriers of accessing mental health support and the stigma attached to mental health.
She is a solution-focused clinician with a direct, casual, yet engaging approach. She works with individuals, couples and families with a client-centered orientation and a systems theory framework. Her approach is comprehensive, holistic, and person-centered. Michelle’s goal is to always make her clients feel heard, seen and valued. She focuses on connection, empathy and meeting each client where they are in that moment. Michelle uses a sense of humor, laughter and creativity. She aims to build rapport and create a comfortable space to grow and be open.
Her therapeutic approach incorporates aspects of mindfulness-based practices, narrative therapy, strengths-based techniques, problem-focused techniques, and evidence-based practices like cognitive and dialectical behavior therapies. She strongly advocates for her clients and empowers them to practice self-acceptance, self-love, gratitude and connection.
For fun Michelle likes to take her adorable dog for walks. She also really enjoys plants and nurseries, music, travel, turquoise dishes, and spending time with friends and family.
Pronouns: She/Her/Her
Education/Licensure
- Masters of Social Work - University of Southern California, May 2019
- Licensed Associate, Independent Clinical Social Worker, June 2019
- Bachelor of Arts in Human Development, Minor in psychology – Washington State University, May 2012
Specialties and Modalities
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Marital conflict, communication and intimacy issues
- Teens and Adolescence; family issues, eating disorders, self-harm, behavioral challenges, trauma, bullying, teen violence.
- Shame and Guilt
- Attachment
- Gender roles and stereotypes
- Trauma, Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internet and Media safety
- Suicide and Self Harm
- Safety Planning
- De-Escalation techniques
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Adults
- CBT
- DBT
- LGBTQIA+
- Cultural Challenges
- PTSD, Complex PTSD
- Psychoeducation
- Gang involvement & Violence
- Systems Theory Approach
“Sometimes resilience arrives in the moment you discover your own unshakeable goodness.”
--Father Greg Boyle