
Michelle Elder
Compassionate Washington mental health counselor
Start with Michelle ElderLicensed · Professional · Cancel Anytime


Compassionate Washington mental health counselor
Start with Michelle ElderLicensed · Professional · Cancel Anytime
Michelle Elder is a licensed mental health counselor practicing in Washington with eight years of experience in the field. She carries a state-issued credential as a Washington Mental Health Counselor (WA LMHC LH61194238), reflecting her professional standing in the state.
Her therapeutic style is non-judgmental and compassionate, rooted in a strength-based, eclectic approach. She draws from narrative therapy, person-centered work, cognitive-behavioral methods, solution-focused techniques, and motivational interviewing, among other modalities, to meet each person’s needs.
Michelle adapts her work to the individual, collaborating with clients to pursue their goals. That collaboration may include relieving distress, addressing problematic behaviors, developing insight, building coping strategies for difficult situations, and related aims.
In the therapeutic relationship she aims to provide a safe space for exploring thoughts, feelings, and concerns, while empowering clients and supporting meaningful change. Her availability for live sessions is limited to very early mornings Monday through Friday, though she remains responsive to messages throughout the day. She has also begun offering sessions every other Saturday and attempts to reserve some openings for people who cannot attend very early weekday appointments. Michelle looks forward to meeting prospective clients soon.
Many people ask whether online therapy can truly help. For common concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, or navigating life changes, online therapy has been shown to be comparable in effectiveness to traditional in-person care for most situations.
One of the primary benefits is flexibility - clients can connect in the format that fits their life, whether that is video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or in-app messaging. This range of options makes it easier to schedule therapy around work, family, and other commitments.
Additionally, these services are provided by licensed professionals, and clients have the option to switch therapists if they want a different fit. Online therapy can be a practical and effective way to access support for everyday mental health concerns while accommodating individual needs and schedules.