Michelle Wendel , LMFT

Michelle Wendel is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who helps women facing stress, anxiety, parenting pressures, career shifts, and life changes. She writes plainly and listens closely so people can talk about what feels hard. Michelle focuses on practical steps that fit each person's day-to-day life.

She draws on methods like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, client-centered work, and cognitive behavioral techniques. That means sessions often include noticing thoughts, trying small behavior changes, and clarifying values people want to live by. The goal is steady progress rather than quick fixes.

Michelle has ten years of clinical experience in California. Over that time she has supported people through divorce and separation, pregnancy and childbirth concerns, codependency, midlife transitions, and aging and geriatric issues. She also addresses workplace stress, self-esteem struggles, guilt and shame, and questions about life purpose and forgiveness.

Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients. Michelle adapts how she works to match each person's needs and pace. She aims to build a trusting relationship that makes it easier to try new ways of coping and problem solving.

Michelle encourages straightforward conversation about goals and obstacles. She helps people set realistic steps, practice new habits between sessions, and check in on what is or isn’t working. Her approach suits people who want supportive, practical help during times of change.

How Michelle’s approach fits online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, stress, and life transitions where clarity about priorities matters. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and building a strong therapeutic relationship so people feel heard and understood. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses small experiments to try new ways of coping.

Finding the right mix of these approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t worked before. Together they decide which techniques to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online formats make that collaboration flexible. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for a quick check-in. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for shorter updates, asking questions between sessions, or when writing helps clarify thoughts. These options help people fit therapy into a busy life and stay connected during transitions.