Michelle is the founder of The Anxiety Break. She has nearly 15 years of dedicated experience in the field of supporting personal development, healing, and growth. She graduated with a Masters of Social Work from Walla Walla University in 2011, and has shared her expertise in a variety of professional settings ranging from the Montana State Prison to the Veteran’s Administration to private practice.  

Michelle's passion lies in providing therapy, advocacy, supervision, and consultation services. Her professional journey has encompassed a wide range of impactful work, including conducting psychosexual evaluations, delivering expert testimony, facilitating sex offender treatment, offering trauma therapy, and specializing in OCD and anxiety treatment.

Michelle is deeply passionate about working with OCD and anxiety disorders. The profound empathy she brings to her practice grows from her personal journey with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). She recalls struggling with symptoms of OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome & ADHD as early as age five, but was diagnosed much later in life.  She understands the anguish and shame that can come with navigating the world through the lens of OCD, as well as the freedom, joy, and excitement of learning to manage her symptoms to build the life and relationships she wants for herself.

Having experienced the profound impact that an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment has had on her own life, Michelle is passionate in her advocacy for greater awareness and better education surrounding OCD.  Michelle is deeply aware that anxiety and OCD are conditions that can prove overwhelmingly debilitating, and has dedicated much of her personal and professional expertise to empowering others on their path to recovery. Guided by an adherence to Evidence-Based Practices, she equips her clients with the necessary tools to effectively manage their anxiety and regain control over their lives.

Michelle offers in person sessions from her office in Missoula or telehealth sessions for those living outside of Missoula and those who prefer to be seen from the comfort of their home. She is licensed and able to treat clients in Montana, Colorado and Nevada. She is also available for Family Well-being Consultation and SPACE Workshops to families impacted by OCD and Anxiety Disorders.

Education:

2011: Walla Walla University, Masters of Social Work

2005: Montana State University, B.S. in Sociology w/ emphasis in Justice Studies & minor in History

Licensures, Certifications and Memberships:

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (2013)

Montana Sex Offender Treatment Association (MSOTA), Clinical Member #46 (2014)

Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA), Clinical Member (2017)

International OCD Foundation (2021)

Notable Professional Trainings:

2024- Family Well-being Consultation

2024- SPACE Expanded- Failure to Launch & ARFID

2024-BTTI Pediatric OCD through the IOCDF

2023-Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE)

2023-Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT)

2023- I-CBT through the OCD Training School

2019-Emotionally Focused Therapy Externship (EFT)

2018-Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR)

2018-DBT Skills Training, Behavioral Tech Institute

2018- STABLE 2007 & ACUTE 2007 Risk Assessment, Global Institute of Forensic Research

2017- STATIC-99 Risk Assessment, Global Institute of Forensic Research

2016-Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Strong Star Training Initiative

Professional Experience:

Adaptive Therapeutic Solutions, PLLC, Therapist/Owner: April 2014- Present

Veterans Administration: Hud Vash Social Worker: January 2016- September 2017

Montana State Prison: ClinicalTherapist & Sex Offender Therapist:May 2011- January 2016

Montana State Probation & Parole, Probation Officer: August 2005- May 2011