Michelle Lehto Flores , LCPC

Michelle Lehto Flores is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) based in Illinois who helps people facing mood disorders, addiction, anger, and low self-esteem. She focuses on everyday problems like family friction, money stress, loneliness, and the strain of major life transitions. Michelle writes plainly and listens closely to what matters in each person’s daily life.

Her style is warm, nonjudgmental, and collaborative. Sessions are practical and goal-oriented. She helps people build coping skills, increase clarity, and take small steps that add up to real change.

Michelle draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques such as cognitive behavioral approaches, solution-focused work, and mindfulness strategies. These methods are used to name harmful patterns, try new coping tools, and calm intense emotions. She combines techniques to fit each person’s situation rather than using a one-size-fits-all plan.

Her background includes a master’s degree in forensic psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and nine years of clinical practice. That experience includes supporting people with substance use concerns and complex mood issues. Michelle’s lived experience also informs how she relates to challenges like limited access to care.

Sessions may cover practical skills like managing cravings, reducing anger outbursts, improving communication, and setting manageable life goals. She helps people explore forgiveness, work through guilt or shame, and find clearer purpose when midlife or immigration stress shifts life circumstances.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Michelle uses cognitive behavioral approaches to help people notice unhelpful thinking and try practical behavior changes. That work often targets depression, anxiety, and mood swings by breaking problems into small, manageable steps.

She also uses solution-focused techniques that zero in on what someone wants to change now. These brief, goal-oriented strategies help people identify strengths, set achievable goals, and test new habits quickly.

Mindfulness strategies are part of her toolbox to help people calm racing thoughts and stay present during stressful moments. Mindfulness can be useful for managing cravings, anger, and intense mood shifts.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to match techniques to their needs, goals, and preferences. Plans are adjusted over time based on what is helpful in real life.

Online therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video works well for in-depth conversations and seeing nonverbal cues, while phone calls use less bandwidth and suit a quick check-in. Live chat or text-based messaging can fit into a busy day and allow shorter, frequent touchpoints. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, family, and travel schedules.