Michelle’s experiences and settings in which she formed her clinical mental health expertise have been broad. Being attuned at a young age to the needs of parents in her community, she worked as a Bilingual Family Service worker for Montgomery Community Action Agency, assisting single parents and children in a Headstart program. For years following, she worked in a residential group home setting for foster children, including one for expectant teens and immigrant minor youth. She led a therapeutic day treatment program as a Clinical Coordinator, helping children attain needed mental health support in Prince William County schools. Michelle has been a licensed therapist/counselor for the past eight years and has been working in the mental health field for over 12 years.

Michelle graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Faulkner University, where she had the privilege to receive the tutelage of Dr. Marvin Grunzke, a well-respected former behavior scientist at NASA. She then graduated with a Master of Science in Counseling and Psychology from Troy University Montgomery in 2014. She became licensed as an Associate Licensed Counselor (AL) in 2014 and later a Licensed Professional Counselor in October 2017. She is a board-approved supervisor for licensure in the state of Virginia and an active member of the Northern Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor Association. She supervises multiple Interns and Residents in counseling at Apple Tree for their independent LPC licenses. Michelle is currently under supervision with Julia Knach, Psy. D, RPT-S to become a Registered Play Therapist. She also completed her consultation and educational requirements for a certification in TF-CBT, an evidence-based trauma model for children who have experienced trauma of many forms.

Michelle employs various methods to help facilitate growth, including cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, and art therapy techniques, utilizing person-centered and existential theory with traditional psychotherapy.