Michele Fitzgerald , LPCC

Michele Fitzgerald is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) with a long history in substance abuse and mental health work, beginning with adolescents in the 1980s. She brings 25 years of professional experience and a background that spans work in Kodiak, Alaska and Minneapolis, Minnesota, giving her a broad perspective on recovery and wellness.

Her practice includes counseling in substance use, adoption and birth parent issues, hospital and long-term care social work, and a variety of behavioral health concerns. Michele appreciates how the fields of behavioral health and alcohol and drug counseling have evolved from separate paths into an integrated view of recovery as synonymous with overall wellness. She emphasizes strength that grows from facing adversity and supports clients in turning mistakes into opportunities for learning.

Michele is known as a thoughtful listener who prioritizes collaboration and practical progress. She works with individuals across concerns such as stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, relationship and family challenges, addictions, and mood difficulties, among other areas. Michele is available for sessions on Thursdays from 4:00 - 8:00 pm and accepts new clients in Minnesota who are seeking a compassionate, experienced counselor.

Approaches That Guide Online Care and Recovery

Client-centered therapy is built around the person rather than the problem - the therapist listens deeply, reflects the client's experience, and helps people find their own solutions, which can be especially helpful for relationship, identity, and life-change concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress, offering practical tools and structured exercises that clients can use between sessions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, blends acceptance and change strategies to teach skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and effective interpersonal communication, which can support people struggling with intense emotions, addiction patterns, or relationship conflicts.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Michele collaborates with each client to assess needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques from these approaches to create a treatment plan that fits the individual's situation and pace.

Online therapy with licensed professionals offers flexibility - sessions can take place by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - making it easier to fit care into busy schedules, manage transportation or mobility limits, and maintain continuity of support during life transitions.