Michele Fitzgerald , LPCC

Michele Fitzgerald is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with 25 years of experience. She began her career in adolescent substance abuse treatment and has worked in varied settings including hospital social work, long-term care, and adoption and birth-parent counseling. Michele practices in Minnesota and speaks English.

Michele focuses on practical recovery and everyday coping. She sees recovery as part of overall wellness and helps people build strength after setbacks. Michele listens carefully and treats mistakes as chances to learn and grow.

Her background includes decades of work in substance use and mental health services. That history shapes a straightforward approach to concerns such as addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma. Her experience also informs help for parenting, sleep and eating problems, and ADHD-related challenges.

Michele uses a blend of approaches to match what the person needs. She draws on client-centered methods to follow a person’s lead, and uses cognitive behavioral techniques for practical skill building. She also brings dialectical behavior therapy and EMDR into work when addressing emotion regulation or trauma.

People often come to Michele for relationship questions, self-esteem and career stress, or family-of-origin issues. She also supports those coping with chronic illness, abandonment, or life transitions. Michele aims to help clients find real-world strategies they can use between sessions.

How Michele blends approaches for online care

Michele commonly uses client-centered therapy, which focuses on listening and following the person's priorities. This approach helps people feel heard and shapes goals that fit their life. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a practical method that identifies unhelpful thoughts and builds new coping skills for anxiety, depression, and stress.

When trauma or intense emotional dysregulation is present, Michele may incorporate elements from Dialectical Behavior Therapy to teach emotion regulation and distress tolerance. She works with clients collaboratively to decide which methods fit best. Figuring out the right approach is an ongoing process and Michele will tailor techniques to a person’s goals, strengths, and pace.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is useful for in-depth conversations and skill practice. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when a person prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and messaging are helpful for brief check-ins, tracking progress, or when someone wants flexible, text-based support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and maintain steady contact with a licensed professional.