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Michelle Wendel, LMFT

Based in California Online sessions

Practical support for stress and parenting challenges

Book with Michelle
Years in practice
10
Credentials
LMFT
Licensed in
California
Languages
English
Focus
Stress, Anxiety
Focus
Parenting issues
Focus
Self esteem
About

About Michelle

Michelle Wendel is a licensed marriage and family therapist with ten years of experience helping adults facing stress and anxiety. She works with people who feel stuck by life changes, career strain, or challenges around parenting and self-esteem. Michelle is based in California and offers sessions in English, including support for international clients.

She focuses on straightforward conversation and practical steps. Sessions often begin with what matters most to the person in that moment.

Background and approach

Michelle listens for values, priorities, and the obstacles that get in the way of them living the life they want. Her approach draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and cognitive behavioral tools alongside a client-centered style. That means she helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, try small behavior changes, and clarify what really matters to them.

She uses simple exercises and real-world experiments between sessions. Michelle often helps people manage transitions like divorce, retirement, pregnancy and childbirth, or the midlife shifts that come with menopause or empty nesting. She also supports those dealing with workplace stress, codependency, guilt and shame, and issues tied to aging and caregiving.

People who choose Michelle should expect a warm, respectful atmosphere and a clear focus on practical change. She works collaboratively to set goals and track progress so each session feels useful and relevant.

Focus areas and approaches

What Michelle works with

Everything Michelle lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Michelle helps people with.

Approaches Michelle lists

Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.

Online support

Therapeutic approaches that translate online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify their values and take actions that match those values even when uncomfortable thoughts or feelings appear. It is often used for anxiety, stress, and major life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and trying small behavior experiments to change mood and functioning. It is practical for worry, workplace stress, and self-esteem concerns. Client-centered therapy emphasizes a respectful, listening-based relationship where the therapist follows the client's lead and supports their goals.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michelle collaborates with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, needs, and preferences. She will discuss options, try techniques, and adjust the plan based on what helps most in session and between visits.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation when visual cues matter. Phone sessions are useful when bandwidth is limited or a camera call isn't convenient. Live chat and text-based messaging make brief check-ins and ongoing reflection easier between scheduled appointments. These options help people fit therapy into work breaks, caregiving schedules, or irregular routines while keeping the focus on practical change.
Questions

Questions people ask about Michelle

What concerns does she help with?

She supports adults facing stress, anxiety, parenting worries, low self-esteem, career issues, and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include divorce, workplace problems, aging and geriatric concerns, and pregnancy and childbirth.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her style blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive behavioral techniques, and a client-centered approach. The work is conversational and practical, with exercises and behavior experiments between sessions.

How long has she been practicing?

She has ten years of clinical experience working with adults on a range of life and relational concerns.

Where is she licensed and located?

She is a California licensed marriage and family therapist - LMFT - and practices from California.

Which languages are available for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English, and she can work with international clients.

What session formats does she offer?

Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.

How does billing and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

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