Rachael McKinnon , LMSW

Rachael McKinnon is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) in Michigan with 14 years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people who feel overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, relationship strain, or major life shifts. Her approach is warm and direct, aimed at practical change rather than long explanations. Rachael uses clear, evidence-based methods to help people manage symptoms and build skills. Sessions typically include talking through recent problems, learning coping strategies, and trying new behaviors between meetings. She helps with sleep problems, grief, anger, self-esteem, career questions, and issues related to LGBT concerns and trauma. Clients can expect a collaborative style that centers on their goals. Rachael draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness practices, and client-centered work to tailor support. She focuses on small, concrete steps that lead to steadier routines and better day-to-day functioning. Practical problems like caregiver stress, chronic illness, body image, codependency, and substance use are within her focus areas. She also addresses complex patterns such as avoidance, dissociation, commitment worries, and communication problems. Rachael helps people facing divorce, abandonment, aging concerns, and co-occurring mental health issues. Therapy is offered through video, phone, live chat, or text messaging to fit different schedules. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. People who want to begin can complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions according to availability.

Approaches that translate well to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and taking small committed steps toward a meaningful life while accepting difficult thoughts and feelings. It is often useful for stress, anxiety, and coping with life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and replaces them with practical skills for managing mood, sleep, and anxiety. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improved communication for people who struggle with strong emotions and relationship conflict.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Rachael will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. Over time she adjusts techniques based on how well they help with specific problems like addiction, trauma, or low self-esteem.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for skill coaching and role-play, while phone sessions can be a simpler option when bandwidth or camera use is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging make it easier to check in between sessions or fit short meetings into a busy day. These options aim to increase flexibility so therapy can fit around work, caregiving, and other responsibilities.