About Michelle
Michelle Ely is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, relationship strain, parenting challenges, anger, and grief. She practices from Alaska and brings six years as an LCSW alongside many more years in social work. Her tone is warm, direct, and respectful.
Michelle focuses on practical steps people can use right away. She listens for strengths and builds from what is already working in someone’s life.
Background and approach
Sessions are interactive and focused on goals the client sets, whether that means reducing worry, improving communication, or coping with loss. Her approach is eclectic and tailored. She chooses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that fit a person’s needs and life circumstances.
That can mean working on emotion regulation, problem solving, or processing difficult memories depending on the situation. Michelle has particular experience supporting people with issues related to trauma and abuse, compassion fatigue, LGBTQ concerns, and self-esteem. She also helps with career questions, life transitions, and intimacy-related concerns.
Additional areas of focus include autism and Asperger syndrome, caregiver stress, blended family dynamics, and veteran and armed forces issues. People who start therapy with Michelle can expect straightforward feedback and practical exercises between sessions. She encourages clients to notice small changes and build on them.
Taking the first step is acknowledged as brave, and she aims to make the process clear and manageable.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Michelle uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical change. One common approach she applies centers on emotion regulation and coping skills - teaching specific tools to manage intense feelings, reduce anxiety, and handle stressful moments. These skills are useful for panic, persistent worry, anger, and compassion fatigue.Another approach she draws on emphasizes processing difficult experiences in manageable steps. This work helps people who have trauma, grief, or relationship wounds by breaking down distressing memories and building tolerance for strong feelings while developing healthier responses.
Finding the right approach is a team effort. Michelle works collaboratively to match techniques to a person’s goals, lifestyle, and preferences. She adjusts methods over time based on what is most helpful and practical for the individual.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect. Video calls approximate an in-person session and are useful for deeper conversations and guided exercises. Phone sessions can fit into a short break or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging support brief check-ins, skill practice between sessions, and people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent around work, caregiving, or changing schedules.
Questions people ask
What kinds of concerns does Michelle help with?
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What experience does she bring to sessions?
Where is she based and how is she licensed?
Which languages are supported for sessions?
What formats are available for online work?
How is cost handled for sessions?
How do I begin working with her?
What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Parenting issues
Also listed
- Anger management
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Blended family issues
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Divorce and separation
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Intellectual disability
- Intimacy-related issues
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Self esteem
- Trauma and abuse
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Women's issues
- Experience
- 6 years
- Licensed
- California, Alaska
- Languages
- English
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