- Warm collaborative style
- Focus on daily coping
- Values-based change
About Michelle
Michelle Goodwater is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in Washington. She brings seven years of clinical experience to sessions and focuses on practical help for stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship and intimacy-related concerns, and money and financial issues among other life strains.
Her style is warm and interactive. She talks with people respectfully and without labels. Sessions aim to be collaborative, with the therapist and client shaping the conversation and next steps together.
Michelle draws on several evidence-informed approaches to guide her work. She uses cognitive behavioral techniques to help people notice and shift unhelpful thoughts, acceptance and commitment ideas to clarify values and build committed action, and client-centered methods to keep the person’s own goals at the center of care.
She also integrates dialectical behavior skills for emotion regulation and grounding methods such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing when trauma memories are a focus. That mix lets her tailor pacing and techniques to each person’s needs and comfort level.
Michelle has helped people with a wide range of concerns including trauma and abuse, family of origin issues, communication problems, career strain, sleep disruption, compassion fatigue, and complicated grief. She encourages small, practical steps that fit into everyday life and supports clients as they try new coping strategies.
How Michelle’s approaches work in remote therapy
Michelle commonly uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Client-Centered Therapy in her work. ACT helps people clarify what matters to them and take small actions that line up with those values. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce distress. Client-centered methods emphasize listening, empathy, and building the conversation around each person’s goals.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each client about goals, preferences, and what feels comfortable. Together they decide which strategies to try first and adjust the plan as needed in ongoing sessions.
If you are considering online therapy, confirm the session formats when you book. Michelle’s description does not list specific remote formats, so please check current options before scheduling. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when that suits a schedule, and reduce travel time. Therapists can use different techniques remotely such as paced skill practice, thought-challenging exercises, and guided grounding or EMDR-informed methods when trauma work is appropriate. These options make it possible to work on practical coping, values-based action, and emotional regulation without changing life routines.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Michelle help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, self esteem, depression, relationship and intimacy-related issues, sleeping problems, anger, career challenges, bipolar concerns, and coping with life changes, among others.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach is warm and interactive. She emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and collaborative dialogue to tailor a plan to each person.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has seven years of experience working as a therapist in Washington.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Washington licensed mental health counselor, listed as LMHC, and practices in Washington.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions scheduled and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Michelle?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.