Here to walk alongside you every step of the way.
I am a white fat-bodied cis-female from the Eastcoast that has lived all over. I moved to the PNW in Aug 2013 and wanted to make a huge change in my life and become a counselor. I found myself being drawn to counseling. I love to connect and talk with others. I value people and having life experiences. I am body positive, trauma-informed, compassion inclusive, sex positive, LGBT+ affirming, and poly and kink-affirming.
What makes me legit? I am a Navy and OEF Veteran, deployment experiences, a Licensed Professional Counselor (Oregon), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Washington), National Certified Counselor with a private practice in Oregon and Washington. I have worked in and with all kinds of US and foreign governments and militaries. And I have had different experiences in the mental health field from Residential, Crisis work, Community Mental Health, and now Private Practice. I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of Maryland University College and a master’s degree in Professional Mental Health Counseling from Lewis and Clark Graduate School.
Some of my areas of therapy interest include: moral injury, anxiety, depression, grief and loss, self-worth, values and morals, aging, affair recovery, body image/changes, religious trauma, and life transitions.
*ask me about pronouns, cis-gender, and anything else
Michele (she/her/they/them)
You are the expert of your life. I value creating a safe and supportive space for honest and open communication. I strongly believe that the best outcomes stem from a collaborative relationship. It is my privilege to support you through the change process by helping you identify your own goals and solutions. During session, I ask questions, provide skills and challenge you when I see that you can take the risk.
Sitting and talking about your problems to a stranger isn't as scary as it seems. It can be relieving, enlightening and even fun at times. With collaboration, compassion and a little humor, I focus on helping you find true connection and happiness.
Together we can reconnect you to yourself and your loves ones once again. As an empathetic and direct therapist, I provide unique type of care for my clients. My approach is challenging, yet compassionate, all along driving you towards making real change.
What is Counseling like with me?
Counseling Approaches
My theoretical orientation is dynamic and ever changing but is based mostly on Relational Cultural Therapy, Trauma Informed Care, Solution focus, Mindfulness, Art Expressions, CBT, DBT, and Narrative Interventions. I have training in Prolonged Exposure Therapy-PTSD, Written Exposure Therapy, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I provide gender-affirming care based on the Informed Consent for Access to Trans Health (ICATH) model and World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) standards of care. I am always learning and taking new trainings.
Get started with Greater Life Counseling, today. During the 15 minute consultation, we will briefly go over needs and goals and get an idea of our working relationship.