- Stress and anxiety
- Career support
- Mindfulness tools
About Michelle
Michelle Wincell OLeary is a Minnesota-based licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) who helps people manage stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, career concerns, and life transitions. She also offers support around compassion fatigue, grief, parenting struggles, anger, bipolar depression, and workplace issues. Michelle frames her work around practical coaching and therapeutic conversation aimed at everyday change.
She uses a blend of client-centered listening and solution-focused techniques to help people find small steps that move them forward. Mindfulness practices and motivational interviewing are part of how she helps clients build motivation and calm. Michelle also draws on psychodynamic ideas to notice patterns that affect present behavior and relationships.
Michelle aims to create an open, nonjudgmental space where people can share thoughts and feelings and be heard. She emphasizes self-care, meditation, and inner discovery as tools for building confidence and resilience. Her approach is collaborative: she follows the client’s lead while offering guidance, coaching, and concrete skill-building.
With 28 years of professional experience, Michelle has worked with individuals, teams, and communities, including supporting Minnesotans through recent local events. She positions herself as a guide and coach who helps people develop adaptability, empowerment, and compassion as they work toward change.
To begin, Michelle invites people to take the first step and engage at their own pace. She encourages practical goals and steady progress, focusing on what clients want to change and how to make that change happen in daily life.
How therapeutic approaches shape online work
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and following what matters most to the client. The therapist offers empathy and reflection so people feel understood and can explore what they want to change. Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and manage stress. These practices can help with anxiety, compassion fatigue, and workplace overwhelm. Motivational interviewing helps people clarify what they want and increases the willingness to take small, concrete steps toward change.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Michelle will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. Together they decide whether to emphasize listening, mindfulness exercises, motivational work, or a mix of methods and then adjust as needed.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life by removing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins when needed, and letting people join from a quieter room during a work break. It can also make it simpler to practice mindfulness between meetings and to keep momentum with regular sessions when schedules are tight.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
28+ years
Credentials
Minnesota
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Michelle help with?
She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, career change, compassion fatigue, grief, parenting strain, anger, bipolar concerns, and workplace issues.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and practical, combining listening with coaching and skill-building to help clients set and reach goals.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Michelle brings 28 years of professional experience working with individuals, teams, and communities.
What credentials and region are associated with Michelle?
She holds a Minnesota LICSW and practices in Minnesota.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.