Michelle Rittenour , LPC

Michelle Rittenour, LPC, offers a calm, practical approach for people facing life transitions and emotional strain. She aims to build a straightforward working relationship where clients can talk about what matters and decide next steps together. Michelle keeps language simple and focuses on immediate, usable skills as well as deeper meaning and purpose.

Michelle draws on 11 years of professional experience in a mix of individual and group settings. Much of her early work supported people impacted by alcohol and drug dependency through group facilitation and prevention services. She also has experience with geriatric concerns and related caregiver stress.

Her work blends talking through current problems with tools that change how people think and act. She uses client-centered listening to learn each person’s priorities. Cognitive behavioral techniques are used when clients want practical ways to manage anxiety, depression, or stress.

Michelle also brings an existential perspective, helping people consider values and life purpose when coping with major change. Narrative methods help clients reframe past stories that still cause pain. Mindfulness practices are offered when grounding and present-moment focus can reduce overwhelm.

Clients seeking help for addiction, grief, relationship or intimacy issues, parenting strain, anger, self-esteem, career questions, or compassion fatigue may find her approach relevant. Michelle works with people on many related concerns, including attachment issues, blended family adjustments, body image, and cancer or caregiver stress.

She practices in Texas and conducts sessions in English. Her background includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in counseling and development from Texas Woman’s University, and a certification in gerontology from the University of Texas at Arlington.

How Michelle’s Approaches Translate to Online Care

Client-centered therapy starts by listening closely to what the client values and wants to change and then shaping sessions around those goals; it works well for decisions, life transitions, and relationship concerns. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress in daily life. Existential therapy invites conversations about meaning, purpose, and values when people face major changes or feel stuck.

Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss options and adjust methods based on the client's goals, preferences, and response. Sessions often blend techniques so that practical skill-building and deeper meaning work happen side by side.

Online therapy can make regular work easier to fit into life. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions are a good option when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging let people send updates, get short reflections, or work through exercises between longer sessions. These formats offer flexibility for scheduling and for matching the way a client prefers to communicate.