ABOUT ME
Welcome! I look forward to working with you and helping you to overcome obstacles and begin living the life you imagine. It takes courage to seek out counseling supports and I'm glad you've reached out to improve your life with our help today. Here is a little about me and how I plan to support you:
I have a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology from Pacific University (2009) and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Washington state. I have experience working with teenagers in psychiatric residential treatment, children in public schools, community mental health, running group workshops using ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), and in the last 8 years working in a non-profit serving children, adults, couples and families. I am a clinical supervisor for a team of therapists helping children and families involved with the Department of Children and Family Services and I offer clinical supervision to other therapists seeking licensure.
My therapeutic style involves helping you to arrive at insight, strategies, and skills that you can implement into your daily life to experience relief of overwhelming feelings and increase positive changes. My goal is to make you feel validated, supported, and most importantly, to meet you where you are at. You are the expert of your life and I value this about my clients. Your input and voice is the driving force for our success in this process. We will set realistic and manageable goals to guide you and improve your life. I am here for you throughout this process and I encourage you to ask questions, to share concerns if they arise, and to check in at any point about your progress/needs. Finding a counselor can be daunting and I hope we can work as a collaborative team to best meet your needs!
SPECIALTIES
Stress, Anxiety
Parenting issues
Self esteem
Depression
Family conflict
Teens
Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
Chronic illness
Life transitions
Years of Experience: 15
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Attachment issues, Blended family issues, Body image, Cancer, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Dependent personality, Divorce and separation, Eating and food-related issues, Emptiness, Family of origin issues, Family problems, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Money and financial issues, Mood disorders, Narcissism, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Phobias, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), Self-love, Sexuality, Social anxiety and phobia, Women's issues, Workplace issues, Young adult issues
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
UT LCMHC 12799672-6004
WA LMHC LH60512816
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Michelle Drake-Mermea. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Very understanding and extremely helpful. I had talked to a few therapist before and was ready to give up. But Michelle really changed my mind on the whole thing and got me out of a real bad spot. Can’t thank her enough I think she is awesome. highly recommend.
Written on Feb 21, 2022 after therapy with Michelle for 4 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, self esteem, career difficulties, and adhd
Meeting Michelle as my therapist was such a blessing. I have been through a lot when I was 25 yrs old til 32 yrs old. I was in survival mode and avoiding the pain. I was so focus to make my situation better during those times and never face what had caused me pain and never focus to heal. I am a DV survivor and now doing well with my two kids but, I am always stress out and have negative thoughts about life. I only had two or three sessions with Michelle and i stopped after that to diges, reflect what we talk about and continued working on the day to day tips she gave me after a few weeks… i felt a breakthrough and at peace. I am not anxious anymore not feel too much stress that i have all the weight of the world in my shoulders. She is an awesome person and therapist. I highly recommended her. After my theraphy with her , I am now in a position that I discovered myself again, my passion, what makes me happy before the “DV” but a better version. Wiser and stronger. Thank you, Michelle! Will look forward to seeing/chatting with you again from time to time.
Written on Dec 20, 2021 after therapy with Michelle for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, eating disorders, parenting issues, and anger management
She has helped tremendously after only 2 sessions.
Written on Jul 20, 2021 after therapy with Michelle for 2 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, and coping with life changes
Phenomenal counselor. Hands down the best I have worked with. She is diverse, flexible, understanding and knowledgeable.
Written on Jun 18, 2021 after therapy with Michelle for 1 year on issues concerning relationship issues, family conflicts, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, and adhd
Michelle has always been there for me, either through phone sessions or when I message her.
She is extremely helpful in working on the situation thats effecting me at the time as well as helping me chip away at the core issues that I have a hard time facing as well!
Michelle is truly a fantastic counselor/therapist and has helped make huge improvements in my life!
Written on Jun 18, 2021 after therapy with Michelle for 1 year and 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, family conflicts, grief, self esteem, anger management, career difficulties, coping with life changes, and adhd
She’s amazing. Helpful, kind, challenges me in all of the right ways.
Written on Dec 18, 2020 after therapy with Michelle for 1 year and 3 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, and adhd