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MS Portrait of Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith

Helping people heal and find their next chapter

LPC, LIMHP Nebraska

Experience
15 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Self esteem
Approaches
Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English

About Michelle

Michelle Smith is a licensed mental health professional in Nebraska with 15 years of experience. She is an LPC and a LIMHP who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, burnout, and life transitions.

Background and approach

Michelle writes and works with clients to help them find clearer direction and a truer sense of self. She focuses on practical steps that make daily life easier.

Sessions often include talking through what feels stuck, practicing new ways to cope, and building habits that match personal values. Michelle encourages small, steady changes that add up over time.

Michelle draws on a mix of approaches to meet real needs. She uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people act in line with their values despite difficult thoughts and feelings.

She also uses Attachment-Based ideas to repair patterns from early relationships and improve trust with others. The Gottman Method is part of her toolbox for addressing relationship concerns and communication problems.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and client-centered methods help people shift unhelpful thoughts and feel heard during sessions. Michelle combines these approaches to fit each person’s goals.

Her work often centers on healing after loss, managing compassion fatigue, navigating identity questions such as gender dysphoria or LGBT concerns, and coping with mood disorders including bipolar disorder. She also helps with parenting stress, career crossroads, money worries, and rebuilding after setbacks.

Her style is warm and direct. Michelle aims to create a calm space where people can practice new skills, name what matters, and move toward a more authentic next chapter.

How therapeutic approaches work online

Michelle often blends the Gottman Method and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to address relationship strain and personal values. The Gottman Method focuses on improving communication and reducing conflict in relationships by teaching concrete skills for listening and repair. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that align with what matters most to them.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Michelle will talk with each person about their goals, symptoms, and preferences and then shape a plan that draws from these methods. This is a collaborative process that adjusts as needs change.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more flexible. Video calls are useful for longer therapy work and skill practice, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and messaging or live chat are handy for quick check-ins or shorter updates. These options help fit therapy around work, childcare, and busy schedules rather than forcing big changes to daily routines.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does Michelle address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, relationship and communication problems, parenting strain, compassion fatigue, life transitions, and identity concerns such as gender dysphoria and LGBT issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is warm, direct, and practical. Sessions mix talking, skill practice, and simple exercises aimed at small changes that fit everyday life.
What is her professional background?
She has 15 years of clinical experience and writes about mental health topics. Her work focuses on healing after setbacks and rebuilding a meaningful next chapter.
Where is she licensed and based?
Michelle holds LPC and LIMHP credentials and is based in Nebraska with licensure noted as CO LPC and NE LIMHP.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. She does not accept international clients at this time.
What formats are available for sessions?
Sessions are available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different schedules and needs.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Also works with

LGBTFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefParenting issuesCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionCoaching

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Gottman MethodJungian TherapyMindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapyPsychodynamic TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

15+ years

Licensed in

Nebraska, Colorado

Languages

English