I am a minister and psychotherapist who values the healthy integration of faith along with the best of the behavioral sciences. I value spiritually grounded and psychologically informed care. One professional specialty has grief and loss.

Children and young adults have such unique issues to navigate in today’s world. As a Licensed Associate Professional Counselor, I want to create a space for children and young adults to process where they are no matter what that looks like. As a therapist, I specialize in working with clients that struggle with anxiety, depression, life changes and adjustment to different phases and stages of life. Young people are constantly growing and changing. I work with clients to process their growing pains through self-expression.

As a former school counselor, I have a heart for helping young people overcome challenges and realize their strengths. Expressive arts and creativity are often at the core of our sessions. Whether that is writing, drawing, or other forms of art, we can use those skills to help you process and externalize even the most challenging emotions. My biggest goal is for you to be able to utilize your passions in the healing process. Ultimately, therapy is a brave space where I guide you in taking ownership of your story and experiences. It would be an honor to start that journey with you!

When I am not with clients, I spend my time supporting my alma mater, the University of Georgia! Go dawgs!!

Available to New Clients! In-person Acworth office or virtually.
Who Am I? We all desire to be heard, to be seen, to have a purpose, to know the truth, to trust, to be trusted, and to be whole. The mind, body, & spirit need to be well; we work with all three parts. Having grown up overseas, I know acculturation into the home country is a struggle. I know what it's like to be hurt by religion or church. I know what it's like to live with a narcissistic leader or family member.
I've experienced divorce, remarriage, had single-parenting struggles, learned to rebuild a family. I know the challenges of aging parents. Life is hard at any age. I am also an LGBTQIA ally.
I offer a safe space of acceptance & kind confrontation. Our lives are impacted by trauma, whether a one-time event or a life pattern. Trauma can be one-time or long-term; religious, psychological, or physical abuse by people we trust. I will walk alongside you, working through the past, accepting the present, working toward whole wellness in your future.
As your therapist, I want to be present with you where your needs may be. If it's anxiety, depression, gender identity issues, church or religion mess, trauma, aging parents, difficult kids, troubled or at-risk-marriage, toxicity, or a career change, I will listen to you. I offer an open mind but I will challenge you when you need another perspective.

"When we deny our stories, they define us. When we own the story, we can write a brave new ending." -Brené Brown.

Believing these words, I create a safe, non-judgmental, compassionate space for adult individuals, couples and families to own and process their stories, while finding meaning, healing and growth. We are dynamic people, capable of change and restoration, and it is an honor to facilitate and walk with a person through this process. I have experience working with anxiety, depression, addiction, chronic illness, marital concerns, trauma, anger management, international adjustments and transitions, infertility and adoption.

In my therapeutic approach, emotional honesty is key in owning our stories and in being able to verbalize the impact of our family histories. Learning to accept how we feel helps us own our failures and mistakes. As your therapist, I will hold space, empowering you to make courageous decisions towards hope/healing/change.

I attended Taylor University in Indiana where I received my BA in Psychology and International Studies, after which I received my MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta, GA. I grew up in North Africa and Western Europe in a multi-cultural family.

Michelle works with adolescents and adults to help them achieve the emotional and personal growth they want to see in their lives. Michelle specializes in helping teenagers and young adults navigate transitions and establish a strong sense of self. She also helps those struggling with fertility journeys and pregnancy loss, military families with their unique lifestyle struggles, and parents establishing healthy relational patterns. She creates a safe, non-judgmental space for individuals to process their emotions, understand themselves, and further develop skills that help them heal and achieve their therapeutic goals.

Do you find yourself spiraling with anxiety? If you're grappling with excessive worry about your health, experiencing panic attacks, or struggling with uncontrollable thoughts about everyday things, you're not alone. These challenges can be incredibly overwhelming and often lead to seeking constant reassurance from loved ones or compulsively searching for answers online. Maybe you’ve tried distracting yourself or avoiding situations, but nothing seems to provide lasting relief. It’s understandable to feel frustrated and exhausted by these cycles of anxiety.

I’m here to help. As a licensed therapist with a focus on anxiety disorders, I understand the complexities of these experiences. I use evidence-based approaches that are the gold standard of treatment.

If you're ready to break free from the cycle of anxiety and find meaningful relief, let's work together. My goal is to support you in building resilience and developing strategies tailored to your unique needs. Take the first step towards a more balanced life. Reach out today to schedule a consultation. You deserve to find peace and relief.

In 1997, I received my PhD in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University where I was trained in the use of Psychodynamic and Cognitive Behavioral therapies with adults and adolescents. My post graduate training includes EMDR and Internal Family Systems therapies. I draw on all of these approaches in my work to help people create happier, more fulfilling lives for themselves and their families.

My therapeutic focus includes transitions in adolescence and adulthood, trauma, navigating divorce and post-divorce relationships, and the anxiety and distress that accompany these experiences. I also help mothers and fathers navigate the difficult job of raising children, from infancy through young adulthood, in all types of family configurations. Together, with compassion, we can understand the origins of your distress, what keeps it present in your life, and what changes need to be made to let it go.

In addition to relying on traditional talk therapies, we can draw upon my non-traditional training. I offer EMDR therapy, a highly effective treatment for trauma that can also be helpful when you feel stuck after trying talk therapy to manage symptoms of depression, anxiety, and relationship issues. And we can choose to use mindfulness techniques drawing upon my decades of practicing and teaching yoga and meditation.

If you are seeking help with any stage of divorce, my training as a divorce mediator may also be helpful in understanding and navigating the process you are going through.

I believe that we all have the capacity to grow towards becoming better versions of ourselves. I work systemically and collaboratively with individuals, couples, and families to help them achieve their desired goals for treatment. I place great emphasis on developing a strong therapeutic relationship with my clients, while also valuing the inherent ability that each person has to work towards individual growth and change. I utilize a variety of interventions in working with clients, viewing treatment through the lens of experiential and structural therapy.

For Adolescents in distress…
The teen and preteen years can be exciting, but also extremely challenging, especially when your child appears to be struggling. Challenging teen behaviors or poor academic performance can be frustrating for the parent, but also may signal that your child is not at their best. I enjoy working with adolescents to help them better understand and manage their struggles, while also helping to build the bridge of communication with the family, fostering a stronger parent-child relationship.

For Families in distress…
Family can be a source of strength, joy, and companionship, but can also feel tense, uncomfortable, and broken when not functioning at its best. It is extremely common to feel "stuck" in the same patterns of behavior. Families often are great solvers of their own problems, but when it feels like you’ve tried everything, often therapy can help family members learn to relate in new and more rewarding ways.

For Couples in distress…
Ever feel like you have the same arguments with your partner over and over again? Do you worry that you’ve tried everything and feel like you keep getting the same outcome? While these feelings of being "stuck" can be highly stressful, there is hope. Therapy can help couples identify new, positive interaction patterns towards a more fulfilling relationship.

I have over 30 years experience teaching mindfulness, meditation and working in the Mental Health field. I feel a lot of compassion for those who struggle and specialize in working with religious trauma, PTSD, nightmares, disscciation, and depersonalization, excessive worries, anxiety and panic attacks. I never ask my clients to do something, i.e. use a method that I have not worked with myself. I strongly believe one must walk their talk and live in integrity to feel healthy. I have traveled and lived in many countries and I provide support for expats and people with intercultural adjustment difficulties related to the experience of living abroad.. My primary purpose for traveling in other countries was to study with various teachers about the nature of consciousness. I lived, for example, with a group of Indians studying indigenous medicine in the Amazon jungle of Columbia. I also traveled through India, Europe, Canada, Latin America, Mexico and Turkey studying the psychological teachings contained in the religious teachings, histories, sacred sites, and art of these cultures. I have studied and practiced Samatha and vipassana Meditation methods for over 30 years. I currently reside in Saigon, Vietnam.