- Warminteractive style
- Trauma informed care
- Practical coping skills
About Michelle
Michelle Goodwater is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) practicing in Washington. She brings seven years of clinical experience and a warm, interactive manner to sessions. Her approach centers on listening with respect and helping people take practical steps toward change.
Michelle focuses on a wide range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, sleep problems, and relationship or intimacy-related issues. She also supports people facing career strain, compassion fatigue, and life transitions. Codependency and family of origin issues are listed among her additional focus areas.
In sessions she uses ideas from cognitive-behavioral work, acceptance and commitment methods, dialectical strategies, and client-centered principles. She also brings elements of eye movement desensitization work when appropriate. Conversations and plans are adjusted to each person's needs rather than following a fixed script.
Michelle aims to create a nonjudgmental space where people can talk through painful experiences and try new coping skills. She avoids stigmatizing labels and emphasizes practical skills for everyday life. Expect collaborative goal setting, straightforward tools, and empathy during the process.
She encourages reaching out when something feels overwhelming or stuck. To begin, people follow a short intake and schedule sessions to match their timing and goals. Michelle expresses steady support for those ready to take the next step toward feeling better.
Therapeutic approaches that translate to online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on identifying personal values and taking committed action toward them while learning to live with difficult thoughts or feelings. It can help with anxiety, depression, and making meaningful life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and offers concrete strategies to change unhelpful patterns; it is often used for anxiety, sleep problems, and depression. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-oriented approach that helps process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity when it fits a person's needs.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose or combine methods based on their goals, concerns, and what feels most comfortable. That process may include trying techniques and checking in often to see what helps.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online therapy can make scheduling easier and help fit sessions into busy days. It can also allow for shorter check-ins or sessions that do not require being on camera when that is useful. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT, CBT, or EMDR strategies for remote sessions to focus on skills practice, processing, and goal setting in ways that fit everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
7+ years
Credentials
Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does this therapist help with?
Areas listed include stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, sleep issues, relationship and intimacy-related concerns, career stress, compassion fatigue, and codependency among others.
How would you describe the therapeutic style?
The style is warm and interactive, emphasizing respect and sensitivity. Sessions focus on practical steps and a collaborative plan tailored to individual needs.
What is the therapist's background and experience?
She holds seven years of clinical experience working with a range of concerns including trauma, abuse, mood and anxiety conditions, and life transitions.
Which credentials and location are listed?
The clinician is a licensed mental health counselor, LMHC, licensed in Washington and practices in that state.
In what languages are sessions provided?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
The biography does not specify which session formats are offered; confirm current session options before booking.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and the therapist's schedule; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How does someone begin working with this therapist?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.