PuttingFamilyFirst

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MB Portrait of Michelle Bartnik
Online therapist

Michelle Bartnik

Compassionate, practical support for busy families

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Credentials
LPC
Experience
9 years
Licensed in
Michigan
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Michelle

Michelle Bartnik is a licensed professional counselor who works with people facing stress, anxiety, family challenges, trauma and parenting concerns. She speaks plainly and meets people where they are. Her tone is steady and supportive, aimed at helping someone take the first step toward feeling better.

She emphasizes that each person knows their own story. That perspective shapes how she listens and responds. Sessions focus on practical next steps and building on strengths already present in a person’s life.

Background and approach

Michelle uses approaches that help uncover patterns in relationships and daily life. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early bonds affect current connections. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, helps identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors.

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on respectful, nonjudgmental listening and collaboration. Her work highlights concrete tools and small shifts rather than long lectures. She draws from narrative techniques to reframe hard experiences and motivational interviewing to support changes clients want to make.

This mix lets people try different ways of handling stress, grief, or relationship strain. Michelle has nine years of counseling experience and practices in Michigan. She explains options plainly and supports clients as they try new strategies.

The aim is to help people cope with life changes, improve communication, and reduce overwhelm in everyday life.

How Michelle’s Approaches Work Online

Michelle commonly draws from Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships influence current reactions and helps people change interaction patterns. Client-Centered Therapy centers on listening without judgment and supporting the person’s own goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and trying different behaviors to reduce anxiety or low mood.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Michelle will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress unfolds, keeping the client’s voice central to decisions.

Online care offers several ways to connect: video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make scheduling more flexible and let people fit sessions into busy family routines. The different formats also let clients pick the way they feel most comfortable sharing and practicing new skills.

Attachment-Based Therapy

Looks at how early bonds shaped what you expect from closeness, and how that plays out now with a partner, a parent, or your own children.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Michelle commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, family problems, trauma and abuse, parenting struggles, depression, relationship and grief issues, career questions, bipolar concerns, ADHD, and coping with life changes.
What is her therapy style like?
The approach is collaborative and straightforward. Michelle listens with respect, helps reframe difficult stories, and teaches practical skills clients can use right away.
How long has she been practicing?
She has nine years of professional counseling experience working with a range of life and family concerns.
What credentials and location are listed for Michelle?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor - LPC - with Michigan license number MI LPC 6401017420 and she practices in Michigan.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats does she offer?
Sessions can be done by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
9 years
Licensed
Michigan
Languages
English

Next step

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