My clients often tell me that they feel seen by me in a way they have never experienced before.

I’m Michele.

THERAPIST | WRITER | PARENT | PARTNER

My clients often tell me that they feel seen and heard by me in a way they haven’t been by other therapists. They are able to set aside the versions of themselves they show the world and allow the often wounded or tender, unexplored parts to peek out. They tell me that they are able to more deeply heal their wounds rather than just learn to cope with them.

I will push on the stuck places to help you move toward healing, but always collaboratively and with deep appreciation for the essential you that may not yet have fully emerged. I bring a warm, nurturing presence and we may find ourselves laughing in session as well exploring the more painful parts you may not have previously shared.

We frequently will find parts of you that once protected you but may not still serve the life you live today. And together we’ll make room for the original, joyful and authentic you that may have been lost underneath and is waiting to reemerge.

A few things about me…

I believe that understanding is overrated.

For most of my life, I turned to intellectual understanding to address my problems, but it never fully worked and it definitely didn’t get me closer to people. Now I see insight as a part of the journey, valuable but incomplete without new experiences that heal the pain at the source. I have lived experience of the profound difference that emotion-focused and attachment-based healing can make in overall joy, both individually and in relationship.

I believe in being human in the room.

I won’t be a blank slate that replicates the “not known” feeling you may experience in the world. Therapy is a relationship and like any other relationship, it depends on trust. I strive to create a safe place where you can explore the parts of yourself that may have been hiding and practice what it might be like to let them emerge into the light.

I love my Silverlake community.

I’ve lived and raised my children in the Silverlake area of Los Angeles for over 20 years, after growing up in Berkeley and living in San Francisco for many years. My partner and I share an imperfectly blended family of five combined mostly-adult children entering their own independent lives, as well as our shamelessly friendly pit bull, Bruno.

Before I was a therapist, I was a writer.

That deep love of people and their stories informs my work as a therapist. Much like our most beloved fictional characters, we are imperfect beings having a human experience in striving to be our best selves but frequently falling along the way. I see these experiences as strengths and I welcome all the parts of you in our work together.

I believe in transformational change.

As someone who has experienced transformational change in my own life, I am an unabashed believer in it. The therapeutic approaches that I practice focus on healing at the source, not changing your behavior or coping with your emotions.

My background

Education

MA, Marriage and Family Therapy,
Sentio University

MFA, Creative Writing,
Warren Wilson College

BA, English Literature,
University of California at Berkeley

Approaches

I have completed advanced training in or my work is informed by the following therapy models:

Emotion-Focused Therapy
(Individuals, Greenberg et al)

AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy)

PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy)

Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Attachment-Focused EMDR

Emotionally Focused Therapy
(Couples, Johnson et al)

Schema Therapy

Ideal Parent Figure Protocol

Memberships

International Society of Emotion-Focused Therapy (isEFT)

AEDP Institute

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)

Los Angeles Chapter, CAMFT

Interests

Trauma and PTSD

Attachment trauma and repair

Anxiety and stress

Couples therapy

Blended families

Parenting and co-parenting

Men who aren’t sure therapy is friendly to men

Adult children of emotionally immature parents

Highly-sensitive persons (HSP)

Addiction and recovery

Creative professionals

Neurodivergence as a strength

“Pure O” OCD

FAQs

  • Hackysack birthname deeptissue jasmine holographicresonance didgeridoo folkremedy bethechange humanpotential co-op superfood, soundhealing spinalawareness.

  • Hackysack birthname deeptissue jasmine holographicresonance didgeridoo folkremedy bethechange humanpotential co-op superfood, soundhealing spinalawareness.

  • Hackysack birthname deeptissue jasmine holographicresonance didgeridoo folkremedy bethechange humanpotential co-op superfood, soundhealing spinalawareness.

  • Hackysack birthname deeptissue jasmine holographicresonance didgeridoo folkremedy bethechange humanpotential co-op superfood, soundhealing spinalawareness.

  • Hackysack birthname deeptissue jasmine holographicresonance didgeridoo folkremedy bethechange humanpotential co-op superfood, soundhealing spinalawareness.

  • Hackysack birthname deeptissue jasmine holographicresonance didgeridoo folkremedy bethechange humanpotential co-op superfood, soundhealing spinalawareness.

schedule a consultation

Curious what it would be like to work together?

I offer a free 15-minute Zoom or phone call, so that you can have an experience of what it’s like to work with me. If we don’t have that click, I am also happy to offer referrals to colleagues that may be a better fit.

REACH OUT