Michelle Bartnik

Michelle Bartnik is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Michigan who helps people dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and family and parenting challenges. She frames clients as the experts in their own stories and looks for strengths to lean on during hard times. Michelle aims to provide calm, straightforward support for people who want a more fulfilling life.

Michelle uses practical methods to help people name their struggles and take small steps forward. She draws on trauma-focused therapy to address past harm, attachment-based ideas to look at relationship patterns, and client-centered listening to make space for each person’s perspective. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tools may be used to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors when that fits the client’s goals.

After nine years working as an LPC, Michelle brings experience helping people cope with grief, relationship strain, career stress, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and major life changes. She also works with concerns like abandonment, blended family issues, body image, caregiver stress, and isolation or loneliness. Her practice emphasizes steady progress rather than quick fixes.

Sessions focus on clear, achievable goals. Michelle uses listening, questions, and practical exercises so people can try new ways of thinking and behaving between visits. She encourages collaboration and checks in about what is and isn’t working as therapy continues.

Language of service is English and services are provided from Michigan. People who want to start can use the site's Start Therapy process to complete a short questionnaire and schedule according to availability.

Approaches used in online therapy and what they address

Michelle commonly uses Trauma-Focused Therapy to help people process and recover from past harm, focusing on reducing the ways trauma still affects daily life. Attachment-Based Therapy is used to look at patterns in relationships and how early bonds influence current connections. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and respect, helping clients feel heard while they set their own goals.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and what feels comfortable. That might mean combining trauma-focused techniques with client-centered support or using cognitive behavioral strategies for specific problems like anxiety.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking since formats are not specified in the profile. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and offer alternatives when leaving work or home is difficult. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, homework, and conversation to work well in remote sessions while helping people move toward clearer goals.