About Michelle:

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Psychotherapist, and have worked with families providing individual and couples counseling for over 15 years. I completed my undergraduate degree at Florida Atlantic University and my Master of Social Work at Florida State University in 1993. I have been a licensed therapist since 1995 providing hospital and community based mental health services to individuals and couples. After the life altering journey into motherhood my career took a different path. I now specialize in women's wellness and perinatal mental health, and couples therapy. I have been a certified childbirth educator and lactation counselor for over 9 years. In this role, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with a variety of moms and dads in the pregnancy and postpartum stages as a psychotherapist as well. I am certified as a specialist in Postpartum Mood Disorders and Depression by Postpartum Support International, a certified 8 Habits of A Highly Successful Couple/Families® facilitator and a Screamfree® Parenting Educator. Equally important to all of the above, I am a wife and busy mother to three lovely daughters.

What is Whole Family Counseling?

Whole Family Counseling was developed as a place to provide resources to families during the many transitional periods of life. Change can be stressful, even positive change. The ability to find support during these periods - whether a new marriage, new baby, or blending families, etc. - can prove crucial in making the change successfully. Throughout the years, I've noticed a reluctance to seek counseling by many new parents due to the lack of therapists available to the growing number of families using a more responsive style of parenting. Additionally, I have been saddened by the number of couples that express a decrease in marital satisfaction after the birth of their children, but are embarrassed to seek therapy or guidance. Many women feel disappointment with their births but are tentative to share these feelings lest they appear ungrateful for their healthy child. Equally troubling, are the number of women unable to access the postpartum support services they need because there is a stigma attached to, and a lack of information surrounding, Postpartum Depression and Anxiety. It is my hope that you will find the personally tailored direction you need at Whole Family Counseling.

Clinical Philosophy:

My approach to counseling is strength-based and tailored to meet the unique needs of each person. I believe that you are the best expert on your life, and I view my role as a guide and source of support as you increase self-understanding, insight, and awareness. Using an individualized approach, a variety of therapy techniques may be used. In an attempt to make therapy services available to more families in the postpartum period, I provide home visits upon request. New mothers are free to bring their babies to any appointment.

Guiding Values and Beliefs:

I believe my role as a therapist, group facilitator, or childbirth educator is to help you identify what works best for your own individual family and situation. I am continually awestruck by the transformation people undergo when they become parents and I understand this is not always an easy journey. I believe that families come in all shapes and sizes. I value the differences inherent in all. With this in mind I am an attachment-parenting friendly therapist. I will not assume your problems are caused by your parenting style. I support a families' decision to make the best educational decisions for their children and recognize there is not an approach that will work for all. I am dedicated to providing professional, confidential and affordable counseling services to women and men across the lifespan. I consider it a privilege to help you achieve your goals.