Michelle Gossard, LMHC

Michelle Gossard listens attentively when people notice increased irritability, withdrawal, or a vague sense that something is not right. She offers a calm, respectful space for clients to share their stories and to explore the challenges that are affecting daily life and relationships. Michelle emphasizes that each person is the expert on their own experience and she supports clients in uncovering strengths and practical skills that promote clearer thinking and steadier mood.

She teaches tools to manage thoughts, feelings, and reactions while encouraging accountability that helps clients better navigate recurring difficulties. Michelle is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), a credential that indicates she is authorized to provide mental health counseling in Iowa. She brings more than 15 years of experience from work in both clinical and military settings. As a military wife and a mother of four active children, she combines clinical training with an understanding of family life under stress.

Her practice draws on cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, and client-centered approaches. She has worked with people facing anger management, persistent negative self-talk, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, stress, and challenges tied to pre- and post-deployment transitions.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Michelle uses client-centered therapy to create a listening, nonjudgmental space where clients lead the conversation and identify what matters most to them. This approach supports people working through self-esteem issues, life transitions, or the emotional effects of family and military life.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps clients identify unhelpful thought patterns and learn practical skills to change reactions and behaviors. It is often applied to anxiety, stress, negative self-talk, panic symptoms, and mood concerns by teaching concrete coping strategies and problem-solving techniques.

Solution-focused therapy concentrates on identifying specific goals and building small, achievable steps toward them. It can be useful when clients want short-term, goal-directed work to address relationship concerns, anger management, or stressors that interfere with daily functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Michelle works collaboratively with each person to determine what fits best based on their needs, goals, and preferences. Licensed professionals and therapists adapt methods over time to match progress and changing circumstances.

Online therapy with Michelle offers practical benefits - sessions by video or phone allow face-to-face connection, while live chat and text-based messaging make it easier to check in between sessions or fit support into a busy schedule. These options support flexibility and accessibility for clients balancing family, work, and other commitments.