Michele Fitzgerald

Michele Fitzgerald is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) with 25 years of experience in behavioral health and substance use work. She began her career in the 1980s, helping adolescents in substance abuse treatment, and has practiced in places as different as Kodiak, Alaska and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Michele frames recovery as part of overall wellness and sees strength growing from hard experiences. She is known for listening carefully and treating mistakes as chances to learn.

Her work has included substance use and mental health counseling, adoption and birth parent counseling, hospital social work, and long-term care support. That range shapes a practical approach that blends what works from different fields. Michele draws on client-centered work to keep the focus on each person's goals and values.

She also uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy to identify unhelpful thinking patterns, and from dialectical behavior therapy to teach emotion regulation and distress-tolerance skills. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing and motivational interviewing are additional tools she may use depending on the situation.

Michele often supports people dealing with grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, addictions, sleep and eating concerns, and challenges around parenting, relationships, or life transitions. She also addresses attachment and family-of-origin issues, aging concerns, chronic illness and codependency. Her tone is steady and practical, and she partners with people to find recovery paths that fit their lives.

Scheduling is narrow; she notes availability on Thursdays from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Prospective clients should confirm current scheduling details before booking.

Therapeutic approaches that translate to online work

Client-centered therapy focuses on understanding each person's goals and values and shaping sessions around what matters most. It helps when someone needs a counselor who listens and follows their pace rather than imposing a plan.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical skills to shift unhelpful patterns. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and sleep or eating problems because it gives clear steps to practice between sessions.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) provides straightforward skills for managing intense emotions and tolerating distress. These skills can help with anger, relationship conflict, and impulsive behaviors that come up during life transitions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss options and adapt methods based on a person's goals, preferences, and the problems they want to address. Together they decide what to try and adjust as needed.

Session logistics should be confirmed before booking since the biography does not list specific online formats. Ask which session types are offered and how scheduling works. One practical benefit of online sessions is fitting therapy into a busy life with fewer travel demands. Other benefits include shorter check-ins when needed and options that can match different energy levels or bandwidth needs. These practical choices help therapy fit into everyday routines without promising a particular format.