Michelle Pereira,LCMHC

Hello there, my name is Michelle. I am a US Navy veteran and a licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida with many years of experience in different healthcare industries. I have gained valuable insights from working in these fields, which assisted me to be highly eclectic in my work.

My therapeutic approach is client-centered, solution-focused, and existential. As Irvin Yalom stated: "It is the relationship that heals." I am a strong believer that what makes therapy real lies in the authenticity and the foundation of the relationships that therapists build with their clients. Trust is everything and allows future clients to be comfortable when speaking with a stranger who already learned so much about them even prior to their first therapy session. I meet my clients where they are with empathy, authenticity, unconditional positive regard, and, most importantly, open-mindedness so that I can guide them through their concerns about their past and present traumatic events, which will inspire them to be the best version of themselves.

I have worked with clients from all walks of life. Whether the client has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, OCD, ODD, anger management, attachment issues, addiction, trauma, or even going through a divorce, my approach is basically the same. I focus on the relationship that I build with my clients, and I work towards building trust, so they can feel comfortable enough to open up to me so that we can work together with the challenges that they are currently facing. I focus on the person as a whole.

My communication style is assertive and yet compassionate. I often check in with my clients to see how the therapeutic pace is going and if they wish me to slow down or get a layer deeper into the therapeutic work. I make sure to let my clients know that they are in control, safe and our sessions are confidential. If the client is not ready to disclose information due to not feeling comfortable, together will explore what the blockages are around not being able to disclose information, and we will work towards achieving that goal. Therapy is a relationship between the client and therapist, so I emphasize on the importance of transparency, authenticity, an guidance through challenging moments.

A wise man once said: "Michelle, the universe keeps sending you to these dead-end roads, and you keep going back to them. When are you going to realize that your gift is not set on the career you wish to have, but the career that was meant for you?" For many years I planned out my life to work as a physical therapist; however, due to an injury in the military, I was forced to change my career. As stubborn as I was, I felt that following this career was the right path for me, then. During my internship at a stroke rehabilitation hospital, prescribing exercise to patients, I realized that I spent more time talking to them as opposed to performing my job. It never dawned on me that counseling was my call. I then found out that I was pregnant, and my body could no longer handle the physical demands of working with patients with stroke. So, I decided to explore careers in many different fields. Still, none of them spoke to me until I came across a program of clinical mental health counseling open house at the Department of psychology at the university I was attending. I then decided to find out more about it, and a few weeks later, I was taking 8 courses in the summer for mental health counseling, and I began to find my purpose. This was the only career that I felt connected with, and I was able to find fulfill my destiny while integrating all my life experiences as I served the community.

Goal setting can be challenging for clients, so my approach is quite simple; together, we will explore ways that setting goals are SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-oriented. Clients should expect a throughout explanation of how the session is going to be laid out. Clients should also expect transparent therapy sessions with no sugar coating and in-depth to what they wish to gain from each session.