Meet Michelle (she/they)
Trauma Therapist in Concord,NC
Have you ever felt lost or disconnected from the world around you and at odds with your inner self? Do you find yourself trying to decide how to best present yourself to certain people or in different situations yet still feeling like you don’t fit in?
Many people grow up without truly understanding their identity often as a result of trauma, abuse, limited resources, or oppressive systems. Society places us in a box with prescribed rules for how to look, how to act, how to have relationships, and even what to think. Not being authentically ourselves leads to chronic stress, exhaustion, anxiety, depression, and relational distress.
I help my clients deconstruct the labels forced on them by others and rebuild their identity in alignment with their authentic selves. By reclaiming themselves, we can address the root cause of their discomfort and learn to live boldly with increased confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth.
Psychotherapy focuses on addressing the mind such as your thoughts and emotions. By using a holistic approach, I expand beyond the mind to incorporate all domains of one’s existence including the physical, spiritual, social, relational, and political.
The mind does not operate by itself. Rather, all areas of one’s life interconnect and impact the others!
For example, if you are struggling financially or physically, you will likely begin to feel a shift in your mental health which may look like anxiety or depression. If you have experienced religious abuse, you will probably struggle with forming relationships, trusting people, or expressing your emotions.
What is holistic therapy?
Holistic therapy addresses all parts of you and your life experience. Instead of just learning to cope with unwanted symptoms, I help my clients discover the root issues and learn actionable steps to making real change in their lives.
In our sessions, we will explore each domain of your life to obtain a holistic view. What are your sleeping and eating habits? What does your support system look like? How do you incorporate spirituality into your life? What are the sources of any trauma? How does culture, religion, and politics affect your mental health?
From there, we can explore connections, determine what to prioritize, and develop a plan to make real changes. If you’d like to learn more about how holistic therapy could benefit you, please schedule a free consultation. I’d love to explore this with you!
By bringing a de-colonial and liberation-based approach to therapy, I tend to do things a bit differently than most therapists.
Western psychology teaches us to prioritize a diagnosis and a textbook that was written by a select, privileged group of people. Though there has been some progress within the mental health field, unfortunately, it is still saturated with the oppressive principles it was founded on.
We aren’t supposed to all look, act, think, and feel the same way. We aren’t going to respond the same to trauma, conflict, or stress. None of us will ever have the same life experience.
So why should therapy be the same?
Doing therapy differently…
You don’t have a disorder. You don’t have an illness. You are not broken or sick. You are a human being navigating the human experience.
I am not here to place a label on you. I’m not putting you in a box. I want to empower you to expand outside of the restraints society places on you. During our sessions, I take the time to get to really know you and understand your experience.
You get to choose what a healthy life looks like for you not some statistics or textbook.
If you are curious about what therapy with a liberation-based trauma therapist could look like for you, please fill out the interest form, and I will be happy to connect with you!
What my clients receive from me
Understanding, empathy, and compassion…
As a queer, neurodivergent person growing up in an environment intent on molding me into anything but my true self, I deeply understand feeling like you are not enough, you don’t fit in, or can’t seem to do anything “right.” My desire to be a therapist developed over decades of evolving my own identity, searching for true community, and surviving my own childhood trauma and relational abuse.
Safety, validation, and support…
I believe every individual is worthy of the healthy life experience they desire. I empower my clients with compassion, acceptance, and empowerment towards their desired goals. During our sessions, I prioritize creating a safe environment where you feel supported and validated while addressing mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual needs.
Authenticity, connection, and warmth…
I’m just another human being living this human experience. I’m here to sit next to you and provide genuine validation and support while you take courageous steps forward to reclaim the life you want and deserve.
If you would like to connect with me, fill out the interest form below! I look forward to meeting you!
Therapy Services in Concord, NC
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Childhood Trauma Therapy
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Religious Trauma Therapy
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Narcissistic Abuse Therapy
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LGBTQIA+ Therapy
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Depression Therapy
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Group Therapy
The Person behind the Therapist!
After living most of my life in Florida, I now get to experience life in North Carolina! I absolutely love having all 4 seasons. I enjoy trying anything new like diverse foods, various kinds of music or art, or a new trail to hike! I am also a dog mom, sports fan, sci-fi nerd, and a classically-trained pianist.
I actually spent over a decade working in education. I really enjoyed teaching, coaching, and mentoring my students. However, I found that having the deep, authentic conversations about real life gave me far more purpose than writing lesson plans. That’s when I took a leap of faith to follow my passion.
I am now so fortunate that I get to do what I love as a trauma therapist by helping others in their personal healing, providing mental health education, and advocating for oppressed and marginalized communities. I would love to explore if I can support you, too!
“I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” ― Angela Davis
Values, Ethics, & Beliefs
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Liberation
I acknowledge and address how social injustice and systemic oppression impacts our personal health and well-being. I empower my clients to challenge these systems and reclaim their agency.
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Anti-rascism
I acknowledge my privilege as a white person and make intentional effort to challenge racism especially in the mental health field and advocate for equity and equality with my clients and communities.
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De-colonialism
I oppose and work to dismantle much of standard Western mental health practices which are built on the foundation of colonial oppression and imposing a discriminatory standard of optimal health based on a select privileged group.
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Anti-oppression
I recognize and challenge the use of diagnoses and treatments that uphold systemic oppression rooted in racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, classism, and other forms of discrimination.
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Inclusion
I support individuals of all identities, races, cultures, religions, classes, bodies, abilities, and backgrounds. I provide a safe space for anyone to find genuine acceptance, validation, and healing
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Compassion
I will never judge or shame anyone for their experience, feelings, or beliefs. I am here to provide empathy, support, and validation as we work together at your pace towards your goals.
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Autonomy
I believe you are the expert of your life experience. You will never be forced to share or do anything you are not completely comfortable with. I am not your authority but your partner in healing.
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Privacy
Therapy is a space to share and process your innermost feelings, thoughts, and experiences. I am honored to share this space with you and will never share your information without your request and informed consent.
Education & Licensure
Master of Social Work (MSW) | University of Central Florida
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) | North Carolina #C018453
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) | #461276
Therapy with Michelle: Frequently Asked Questions
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1.) Interest Form
If you are interested in beginning trauma therapy, complete the interest form to get started! Simply fill in your contact information and what is bringing you to therapy. If you would like to meet for a free 15-minute consultation, you will be provided with the direct link to schedule.
2.) Connection
If you scheduled a video consultation, you will be sent a link to meet via a HIPAA-compliant video interface. Otherwise, I will reach out via email or phone to connect. This is a great opportunity to ask any questions, review your goals, and feel out our compatibility to make sure this is the best therapeutic fit.
3.) Intake Process
If you decide to begin therapy, I will send you a link to complete intake paperwork and to set up your client portal. From there you will be able to schedule your first session! Your client portal also provides access to your documents, invoices, and scheduling.
4.) First Appointment
Our initial appointment is focused on learning more about you, collaborating on your goals, and jumping into whatever you are ready to discuss. Make sure you are in a private, comfortable space and get ready to take your first step towards healing and growth!
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Trauma Therapy Session Rates:
30-min Online Therapy Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $7560-min Online Therapy Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150
90-min Online Therapy Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . $225
Debit, credit, and HSA/FSA payments are accepted.
All payments are due at time of service. -
Debit, credit, and HSA/FSA payments are accepted.
All services are private pay only. Insurance is not accepted. Superbills are not provided.
What are the benefits of self pay?
Insurance companies require access to client records, mandate what must be disclosed in notes, regulate diagnoses, and dictate type/length of treatment.
When you pay out of pocket, you are guaranteed complete control and privacy over your own treatment.
You should feel safe to discuss your identity, personal choices, and life experience with your therapist. No third party or insurance company should be privy to your most personal details or control your treatment.
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All trauma therapy sessions are currently online and are available to all adults (18+) throughout North Carolina. We meet using a HIPPA-compliant and secure video conferencing platform which can be accessed on any computer, tablet, or phone with access to the internet. Online therapy offers you flexibility to have your sessions from the comfort of home or anywhere that works best for you!
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When beginning trauma therapy, weekly 60-minute sessions are most effective. This helps create consistency, accountability, and the ability to best measure progress. Many clients find this helpful for the first 3-6 months. Once you feel confident in your progress, sessions are typically reduced to every other week. The timeline looks different for everyone, and we will collaborate together on ensuring your therapy is most effective for you.
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Clients are able to schedule sessions via their own client portal. You can schedule week to week or a few weeks out. If you prefer meeting at the same day/time every week, I can block that time for you as long as you show up for your sessions. We can also discuss different scheduling options during our consultation call.
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations and rescheduled sessions will be subject to a full charge if not received at least 24 hours in advance. This is necessary because a time commitment is made to you and is held exclusively for you. If you are late for a session, you may lose some of that session time. If you are able to reschedule within the same week, the late cancellation fee will be dropped.