- Person-centered care
- Mindfulness focus
- Professional coaching
About Michelle
Michelle Wincell OLeary is a Minnesota-based licensed clinical social worker (LICSW) with 28 years of experience. She helps people handle stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, career confusion, grief, parenting strain, and the ups and downs of mood disorders like depression and bipolar. She also offers coaching for professional and personal growth and support for compassion fatigue.
Michelle takes a calm, person-focused approach. She listens without judgment and creates room for clients to talk about their values, beliefs, and daily struggles. Sessions often include practical strategies such as self-care routines, meditation, and tools for building confidence and motivation.
Her style blends client-centered listening with solution-focused planning and mindfulness practices. She also draws on motivational interviewing to encourage change and psychodynamic perspectives when exploring deeper patterns that affect behavior. The goal is to find workable steps that fit each person’s life.
Michelle mentions a commitment to supporting people affected by significant events in Minnesota and to community resilience. She describes working with individuals, teams, and communities during crisis and focuses on empowerment, adaptability, and compassion.
To begin, she encourages a collaborative process that follows the client’s lead. The work can include coaching, therapeutic conversations, and guided inner discovery to help people move toward the life they want.
How Michelle’s approaches translate to online work
Michelle uses client-centered therapy to follow each person’s lead, focusing conversations on what matters most to them and building goals together. This approach helps with motivation, self-esteem, relationship stress, and other personal concerns.She also uses mindfulness techniques to teach simple practices for calming the mind and improving day-to-day coping. These tools are often helpful for anxiety, stress, and managing mood shifts. Motivational interviewing is another approach she brings in to support readiness for change and to boost commitment to real steps forward.
Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. The therapist and client review goals, try methods, and adjust over time so the work fits personal needs and preferences. Michelle frames therapy as a guided partnership rather than a one-size-fits-all prescription.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Many people find online work useful because it can fit into a busy week, reduce travel time, and make it easier to schedule shorter check-ins or regular sessions around work and family life. Talk with the therapist about what will work best for your schedule and day-to-day routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
28+ years
Listed in
Minnesota
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does Michelle help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, self-esteem, career questions, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, grief, parenting concerns, anger, bipolar and depression, and related issues.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Michelle uses a warm, nonjudgmental approach that centers the person. She blends listening with practical steps like meditation, coaching, and skill-building.
How much experience does she have?
She has 28 years of professional experience working with individuals, teams, and communities in a range of settings.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a LICSW, licensed in Minnesota, and practices in that state.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to start therapy?
Use the Start Therapy button, fill out a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.