Michelle Lakefield, LPC

Michelle Lakefield is a licensed counselor in New Jersey with more than 20 years of professional experience. She has focused much of her work on helping people manage stress and anxiety, drawing on a calm, steady approach that emphasizes listening and understanding.

Michelle creates an open, nonjudgmental space where thoughts and feelings can be shared and explored. Her practice is built around emotional safety and mutual respect, allowing clients to examine concerns at their own pace and find workable paths forward.

She recognizes that taking the first step toward therapy often requires courage and values the commitment clients make when they begin this work. Michelle supports each person with empathy and practical guidance, helping them move toward greater coping and clarity.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Michelle Lakefield uses Client-Centered Therapy to place the client's experience at the center of the work. This approach emphasizes empathy, active listening, and respect for each person’s goals, and it can be especially helpful for addressing stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, and self-esteem issues.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact. CBT offers practical strategies for identifying and shifting unhelpful patterns and can support work on anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes.

Solution-Focused Therapy appears in her toolkit as well, offering a goal-oriented method that helps clients identify strengths and small, concrete steps toward change. This approach can be useful for clients seeking focused progress and clear strategies.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Michelle works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit best based on needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors the plan as the work unfolds so the approach stays aligned with the client’s priorities.

Online therapy with Michelle is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options provide flexibility for scheduling, make it easier to maintain consistency, and increase access for people managing busy lives or located outside her immediate area.