Michelle Durham, LPC

Michelle Durham is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) based in the District of Columbia. She brings 19 years of experience helping people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, grief, and substance concerns. Michelle aims to create a warm, approachable space where clients set the pace and goals for their work.

Her background is largely in nonprofit and community settings. She has provided counseling to people affected by homelessness, unemployment, substance use, trauma, and serious mental health conditions. Michelle has also worked with people who are leaving incarceration, exiting foster care, or fleeing domestic violence.

Michelle uses a strengths-based, client-centered approach that pays attention to each person's cultural context. She often combines methods from cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness, narrative work, and solution-focused techniques to fit a person's needs. She emphasizes practical steps and self-care plans that fit real life.

Trauma-informed practices are part of her work, and she has completed Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model training for women. Michelle says treatment follows the client's lead and that the relationship between client and counselor guides the path forward.

Her style is direct but compassionate. She encourages collaboration and clear goals so people can track progress. Michelle supports people who want to build coping skills, repair relationships, manage intrusive thoughts, or recover from substance-related harm.

People who prefer straightforward talk, practical tools, and culturally aware care may find her approach helpful.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and testing them with real-life experiments. It is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and for changing habits related to substance use. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, ACT, helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to values-based action. It can help with grief, trauma reactions, and motivation when life feels stuck.

Michelle sees selecting an approach as a joint process. She listens to your concerns, explains different options, and together you choose strategies that fit your goals and daily life. That collaborative planning can include short-term goals, skill practice between sessions, and adjustments based on what works for you.

Online formats available include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is helpful when visual cues matter. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when being on camera is tiring. Live chat and messaging support brief check-ins, ongoing coaching-style contact, or quick skill practice between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit counseling into work, caregiving, or busy schedules while keeping the focus on meaningful change.