Michelle Goodwater, LMHC - Therapist in Washington

About Michelle

Michelle Goodwater is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in Washington. She brings seven years of clinical experience and a direct, compassionate manner to sessions. Michelle emphasizes clear, practical support for people dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship strains, and life transitions.

She uses therapy to help clients talk through problems, build coping skills, and strengthen what matters to them. Her work commonly includes issues around intimacy, family concerns, sleep problems, anger, and career strain.

Background and approach

She also supports people facing trauma, abuse, bipolar mood challenges, and compassion fatigue. Michelle addresses specific topics such as communication problems, codependency, attachment issues, and feelings of emptiness when they come up. Michelle blends several proven approaches to fit each person’s needs.

She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, and a client-centered stance. Sessions are conversational and tailored rather than formulaic. In therapy she aims to create a respectful, nonjudgmental space.

Michelle works with clients to set concrete goals and learn tools they can use between sessions. She frames progress as small, steady steps toward more manageable days. Michelle’s practice includes family and parenting-related topics among her focus areas.

People who prefer English-language sessions will find care provided in that language.

How Michelle’s Approaches Work Online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for stress, anxiety, and coping with life changes by teaching practical ways to move forward despite hard feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, focuses on identifying patterns of thinking that make problems worse and swapping them for more useful behaviors and perspectives. CBT often helps with depression, sleep problems, and worry. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR, is a structured approach for processing traumatic memories and reducing their emotional hold. It can be helpful for people who have experienced abuse or other intense trauma.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about their concerns, goals, and preferences and then suggest methods to try. The plan can change over time based on what helps and what feels comfortable for the client.

Online therapy makes those approaches more accessible through flexible formats. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and use the same techniques as in-person sessions. Phone sessions offer another option when video is not practical. Live chat and text-based messaging support brief check-ins, skill practice, and follow-up between longer meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy family schedules and to keep using tools between sessions.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

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 kinds of problems does Michelle help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy-related issues, sleep and anger problems, career concerns, bipolar symptoms, and compassion fatigue among other concerns.

What is her general therapy style?

Her style is warm and interactive with a focus on respect and sensitivity. Sessions are conversational and tailored to each person’s needs.

How long has she been practicing?

She has seven years of experience as a licensed mental health counselor in Washington.

What are her credentials and where is she licensed?

She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, LMHC, with license number WA LMHC 60938979 and practices in Washington.

Can I work with her if I speak another language?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging for therapy appointments.

How are fees and billing handled?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience: 7 years
Licensed: Washington
Languages: English

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