Michelle Wagar, LLPC
My reasons for pursuing a career in mental health counseling are too complex to fit into a small profile about myself. What I can tell you, is that I am committed to guiding every client through the challenges life throws at us by working from the inside out, to achieve mental wellness. Throughout my own therapeutic journey, I have recognized the need to address these problems and begin the healing process at the root, but most of us avoid these problems until they create symptoms at the surface. We can choose to view these symptoms, such as anxiety and depression, as problems or we can find the courage to acknowledge them and ask ourselves “what is our mind and body trying to tell us? What thoughts are we purposely avoiding? What are we running from? What are we scared of? What would happen if we no longer allowed our symptoms to control us? As the saying goes “learn from the past, live in the present and plan for the future.” This is what I will help you achieve. Through your own strengths, I will guide you to reclaim clarity, confidence, become mindfully present in the moment again, gain a positive self-image and self-worth, the tools to overcome challenges and the ability to achieve different perspectives on life. I will help you gain the insight about those negative core beliefs you hold yourself to so that you will no longer be a victim to yourself or others. It is my goal to create a secure, non-judgmental, and comfortable environment so that you feel safe to share your stories. It is through this connection that I believe the best progress is made.
Some of my specialty areas are anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship issues. I use a variety of evidenced-based therapeutic approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, depending on the client and situation. I also like to integrate various assignments into my sessions as homework has proven to strongly influences positive outcomes. If there is a strategy that you believe you would benefit from, please let me know and I will do my best to integrate it into our therapy sessions together. However, my ultimate goal is to listen effectively to what your needs are throughout this process. Let the healing begin!
