About Michelle
I have been blessed to accompany people across many ages, places, and stages. I delight in having a “front row seat” to witness transformation: breakthroughs that emerge over time and yield lasting change.
As a Catholic therapist, I see my role as God’s instrument in the healing process. My job involves bringing each person to Him and relying upon the wisdom and direction of the Holy Spirit to guide our work together.
I welcome all clients, regardless of background or faith tradition. I am here to meet you where you are. Faith is never forced, and regardless of where you are on your journey, you will be met with reverence and respect for your inherent human dignity.
Outside the counseling office, I enjoy the beach, writing, cooking/baking, and playing music.
Education
Bachelor of Arts (Music & Psychology): St. Bonaventure University
Master of Arts (Clinical Mental Health Counseling): Fairfield University
Credentials
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) - State of Connecticut
National Certified Counselor (NCC) - National Board of Certified Counselors
EMDR-trained - Intuitus Group
Professional Affiliation
Catholic Psychotherapy Association
Community Leadership
Member, Seminarian Advisory Board - Archdiocese of Hartford
Clinical Approach
Michelle primarily utilizes the following modalities (and draws from other modalities as appropriate):
Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR)
A memory reconstruction therapy, utilized primarily in trauma processing, that has been extensively researched. For more information, check out the EMDRIA (EMDR International Association) website.
Polyvagal Theory
Conceptualizes the human nervous system and helps us understand emotional and behavioral patterns with curiosity, not judgment.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
A form of “parts” work that helps us name, relate to, and regulate our emotions.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Helps to identify thoughts that contribute to unpleasant feelings, which lead to undesired behavior.
Specializations
Michelle has experience accompanying people in the following areas:
Anxiety
Trauma
Relationship Issues
Family-of-Origin Issues/Differentiation
Attachment Patterns
Life Transitions
Identity
Emotional Regulation
Grief
Self-esteem
Career Discernment
Spiritual Issues
About Veritas Counseling
“Veritas” is Latin for “truth.”
As humans, we are constantly seeking what is true—about ourselves, each other, the world. Sometimes the truth gets buried under the weight of painful experiences. Counseling is here to help you “uncover” what has always been there—who you are at your core—but has gotten lost. At Veritas Counseling, we believe that this “uncovering” is where we find healing, and it involves going beneath the surface. Most of all, it occurs through relationship, not in isolation.
Veritas Counseling’s mission is to be an agent of healing: mental, physical, and spiritual. We are housed within Crossroads Fitness in Columbia, CT, with direct access to the following services for referrals and coordination of care:
Physical and Occupational Therapy
Naturopathic Medicine
Personal Training, Massage Therapy, Fitness Classes