Michelle Wendel, LMFT

Michelle Wendel is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who helps adults facing stress, anxiety, career strain, parenting pressures, and life transitions. She focuses on practical support for people navigating midlife change, relationship shifts, and struggles with self-esteem. Michelle writes clearly and listens closely so clients can talk through what matters most to them.

Michelle has worked in California for about 10 years. Her background centers on supporting people through divorce, empty nesting, menopause, retirement, and caregiving for older relatives. She also addresses codependency, workplace problems, and the emotional impact of chronic health concerns.

In sessions she adapts methods to the person rather than using one fixed style. Michelle draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice patterns, identify values, and try new behaviors. She works at a pace that feels manageable and practical for everyday life.

Michelle emphasizes building a trusting relationship first. She helps clients set clear, realistic goals and practices steps they can use between meetings. Many clients focus on improving communication, reducing anxiety, or clarifying life purpose.

Her approach is straightforward and collaborative. Michelle supports clients in making choices that fit their priorities and in developing coping skills to handle ongoing stressors.

How Michelle’s approaches translate to online therapy

Michelle often uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values. ACT focuses on noticing thoughts without being ruled by them and practicing actions that match personal priorities.

She also applies Client-Centered Therapy, which centers on listening and reflecting so the person feels understood. This approach helps people explore emotions at their own pace and build self-acceptance.

In addition, Michelle uses elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and try practical experiments to change behavior. CBT techniques are useful for anxiety, stress, and shifting daily habits.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michelle treats the choice of method as collaborative and will adjust techniques based on a client's goals, preferences, and what helps in early sessions.

Session formats are not listed here, so confirm the options available before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten travel time, and allow for different styles of meetings such as shorter check-ins or video conversations when appropriate. These practical benefits help people keep therapy consistent with their everyday life.