Michele Fitzgerald, LPCC

Michele Fitzgerald began her career in the 1980s working with adolescents in substance abuse treatment, a foundation that shaped her long-term commitment to behavioral health. She has practiced in diverse settings, including Kodiak, Alaska and Minneapolis, Minnesota, bringing experience from community treatment programs to more traditional clinical environments.

Her background spans substance abuse and mental health counseling as well as adoption and birth parent counseling. Michele has also worked in social work roles within a hospital and a long-term care center, which contributes to a broad understanding of clients across the lifespan. She has observed the evolution of behavioral health and alcohol and drug counseling fields over time and treats recovery as an element of overall wellness.

Michele values the development of strength through adversity and approaches each person as someone capable of growth. She is known for listening carefully and framing mistakes as opportunities to learn. Michele holds an LPCC - a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor - and is available for appointments on Thursdays from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.

Therapeutic Approaches and Accessible Online Care

Michele integrates client-centered therapy into her work, creating a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the client guides the pace and focus of sessions while the therapist offers empathy and support. This approach can be helpful for people navigating life transitions, grief, relationship concerns, or questions of identity.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - CBT - which helps clients identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns because it offers practical tools for navigating day-to-day challenges.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy - DBT - is another approach Michele employs when emotion regulation, distress tolerance, or interpersonal effectiveness are central issues. DBT teaches concrete skills to manage intense emotions and improve communication in relationships.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Michele will work with each person to determine which methods align best with their goals, preferences, and life circumstances, adapting strategies as progress unfolds.

Online therapy options including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging make it easier to fit counseling into a busy life. These formats offer flexibility in scheduling, allow continuity of care across locations within the state, and give clients multiple ways to engage with licensed professionals and therapists according to what feels most accessible and useful.