Michele is a mental health counselor licensed in New York,New Jersey, and Florida for Telehealth.  She is an ordained rabbi. She received her Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree from Hebrew Union College in NYC in 2016. The D.Min. degree is an interfaith program for clergy to enhance clergy counseling through formal mental health counseling training. Michele’s rabbinical background helps her provide additional insights to clients with mental health challenges as well clients seeking personal and spiritual growth.

Michele provides a safe, non-judgmental, caring space for clients to share what is on their mind. The challenges of life can sometimes catch up with us. Having a comfortable place to discuss life’s various stresses can be helpful. For others, a more comprehensive mental health counseling program is necessary.  We can also add a spiritual dimension to therapy, incorporating various religious backgrounds, which can enhance therapy by helping clients to find meaning and purpose in their daily lives.

Each client is different, and each situation is different. Michele practices Holistic/Integrative Therapy by using various counseling tools and techniques to best help her clients. Her approaches include CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy), IFS (Internal Family Systems), Talk Therapy, Positive Psychology, meditation and mindfulness, relaxation techniques, and inspirational readings.

For those who are rabbi for over 25 years. Early in her career a variety of events set her out on a spiritual search. On that journey she discovered new ways to connect to God through prayer, meditation, and action. It helped her to explore her purpose in life. Each of us is created in God’s image, but is also unique. No one else is exactly like us. Some mental health issues are exaggerated by having no aim or purpose in life. Figuring out what your specific purpose is can enhance well being. Adding prayer, spiritual readings, and/or scriptural readings to your therapy approach can expand your journey toward healing.

You may say, “I am not religious.” Spirituality is more about connecting to something greater than yourself, regardless of your religious background or beliefs. It reminds us that we are part of a greater whole, beyond our own selves. It takes the focus off of us as individuals and encourages us to focus on the we, rather than the me.