Michaela (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT #117042) who joined the Practice team in July of 2020.

Michaela is holistic and authentic in her work. She utilizes a variety of evidence-based modalities, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure response prevention (ERP), attachment theory, mindfulness, and parent coaching to treat mood and anxiety disorders, including OCD. Michaela specializes in helping children, teens, young adults, and adults overcome phobias, obsessions, and other challenges that interfere with their well-being. She uses ERP to guide clients through the process of confronting and reducing the impact of their fears, working with individuals across the lifespan.

Michaela brings creativity and enthusiasm to her work, always aiming to provide clients with a safe space for self-expression, emotional growth, and the development of coping skills. She is passionate about helping clients build awareness around the connection between thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Michaela offers individual therapy for children, teens, young adults, and adults, tailoring her approach to meet each client’s unique needs. She also provides parent coaching and leads a variety of groups for middle schoolers, helping families navigate the complexities of emotional and behavioral challenges.

Michaela received her Master's in Counseling Psychology from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, California, and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Gonzaga University. She has experience in school-based settings, providing trauma-informed therapy to elementary school students and their families. Michaela also has experience working in an intensive outpatient setting for adolescents as an individual, family, and group therapist. Additionally, she has worked in the foster care system, community mental health, and in behavioral therapy (applied behavioral analysis) for children with developmental delays. Michaela has received specialty cognitive-behavioral training from the Beck Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital for cognitive behavioral therapy for OCD in children, adolescents, and adults. She has also completed Yale University's Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) approach.

In her free time, Michaela enjoys exploring the beautiful nature the Bay Area has to offer, from hiking to beach outings with her dog!