Abby Michel, Associate Professional Clinical Counselor

You deserve to feel empowered. If you're feeling like the weight of the world is just too heavy, and you are struggling to get a handle on things, then you're not alone. Feeling anxious and depressed can be a part of life, but you also have so many strengths that can help you through those times. My role as a drama therapist and professional clinical mental health counselor is to help you recognize those amazing qualities that you most certainly have, and to explore the roles you play in your life, while we practice together how to respond more ideally to those inevitable life stressors. I primarily use drama therapy as well as talk therapy in my work with adults and children. The beauty of drama therapy is that it can look so many different ways, so it can be tailored to each individual in unique ways that serve each client differently. I utilize a humanistic, person-centered approach with the idea that empowered individuals are freer and have better access to choices they feel good about. The founder of psychodrama, Jacob Moreno, believed that everyone plays several different roles in their life and thought that the more roles a person has access to, the healthier they are. People often seek out therapy because one or more of the roles they play in their lives aren't going well. Life is like an ocean with moments of calm and intense stress. I can help you manage those waves and know that they always eventually pass. Together, we can take a deeper look at how your life is "playing out," and we can become allies in helping you feel empowered and ready to surf that next wave.