My name is Michelle Hansen. I earned my BA in Psychology from Purdue Northwest, in Indiana, and received my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, from Lewis University. My experience includes working in community mental health and working with the courts for mandated assessing, diagnosing, individual and group therapy. I have provided outpatient therapy for adolescence and adult mental health, individuals with disabilities, substance use and alcohol use.

I specialize in individual counseling for grief and suicide prevention, including safety planning, crisis intervention, constructing the basics of building self-esteem, depression, general and social anxiety. My experience also includes working with women going through menopause and other personal issues. My background includes working with both both men and women struggling with midlife, such as, empty nesters and job transitions.

I have a passion for working with couples to help them become emotionally attuned with each other and secure a healthy bond. I have been trained in providing sex therapy for couples and individuals with sexual difficulties, intimacy issues and relationship concerns. I am educated in working with infidelity within relationships, as well as working on betrayal of trust and asking for forgiveness.

I am a certified facilitator for Prepare Enrich comprehensive assessments for dating, engaged and married couples. The assessment along with the recommended sessions will give the couple the knowledge to help build strength and growth in the relationship. The benefits to this program are: the assessment results can help the couple apply concepts and skills relevant to their specific relationship, it will increase awareness of the individual & the couple and stimulate dialogue with each other in a healthy counseling setting. We can also work with your step-family concerns as it relates to the couple and co-parenting. This structured program does provide flexibility for the couple and therapist to work on exercises based off of the feedback from the assessment.

One of my strong points is group therapy due to the collaborative nature of everyone involved. I have a passion for working with the community advocating for preventative care, providing mental health education, and raising self-awareness. I have presented presentations within the community to promote awareness of Narcan and how to save lives due to opioid use. I have developed suicide prevention presentations for both adults and adolescence to bring awareness and help fight the stigma allowing for open discussion. I created a presentation, Advanced Daily Living (ADLs), to assist individuals with disabilities live their most productive life.

I have experience with evidence-based treatment modalities which include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and mindfulness. Because you are the expert in your own life, my approach is client centered, which will help build autonomy, leaving you with the ability to solve your own problems. My goal is to meet each client where they are, provide them with self-awareness to make their own positive healthy decisions for the future they envision.

I will be working with adolescence age 16 and up, as well as adults of all ages in both virtual sessions and at the Oswego location.