Michelle is a warm, empathic counsellor who is committed to providing you with evidenced based treatments to help you achieve your counselling goals. With over 25 years of experience, she has had extensive training and skills in working with children, youth and adults.  Her specialties include family violence, sexual abuse, trauma, and relationship difficulties. Michelle has experience supervising a team of therapists, children and youth services workers and has a part-time private practice.

 

After years of being in the social work field, Michelle has seen many people struggle from the effects of trauma. They are stuck in feelings of guilt and shame and experience painful memories with accompanying symptoms of depression and anxiety. They use self destructive behaviours to cope and are often in unhealthy relationships. Many people have tried therapy and have made some gains yet they continue to be haunted as they bump up against trauma triggers.  With new advancements in the knowledge of trauma and the brain, we now recognize the mind/body connection and that in order to heal from traumatic experiences, therapy also needs to target body memories. With new treatments available to incorporate mind, body and the brain there is now hope for long term healing and growth.

 

Michelle's passion and primary treatment modality is Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing as it is a powerful, life-changing and efficient therapy method that is deemed by the World Health Organization as the recommended therapy for trauma and symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) including nightmares, flashbacks, re-experiencing abuse and struggles with daily living (www.emdria.org.)  EMDR is a holistic approach that incorporates mind and body using bilateral stimulation to clear out old unhelpful thoughts, memories and painful experiences to make room for more positive, adaptive neuropathways and experiences.

 

Informed by Internal Family Systems, Structural Dissociation and Polyvagal Theory, Michelle also uses other therapeutic methods including trauma focused cognitive behavioural therapy (https://tfcbt.musc.edu); mindfulness; relaxation and dialectical behaviour therapy techniques. If you are looking to decrease your trauma symptoms ,increase your coping skills and look forward to feeling better about yourself and having healthier relationships, this service may be right for you.

 

Michelle only has room for 4 clients at a time in her private practice - as such you can be sure that each of you will receive specialized attention to create an individualized plan. Each situation is unique and Michelle will work with you to assess what is causing you distress and customize a treatment plan suited to your particular needs.

 

Many benefit plans cover MSW therapy and Michelle will assist you with your insurance claims if she is not already an approved provider with your benefit plan.

 

For more info about Michelle, see linkedin profile at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-smith-msw-rsw-4a827732

 

To learn more about Michelle or book an appointment, click on the "contact" tab above.