Michelle Wenzler

Compassionate, skills-focused therapy for life transitions

LCSW California

Experience: 15 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Depression
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Michelle

Michelle Wenzler is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in California with 15 years of experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and major life changes. She also supports clients managing compassion fatigue and related concerns such as mood disorders, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress, and isolation.

Background and approach

Michelle emphasizes clients' strengths and lived knowledge, approaching each person as the expert in their own story while offering professional guidance to move toward more satisfying daily life. Her practice blends practical, skill-focused methods with empathic listening.

Michelle frequently uses cognitive behavioral strategies to identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, and she incorporates acceptance and mindfulness-based tools to increase psychological flexibility and present-moment awareness. Motivational interviewing and client-centered principles shape collaborative conversations that help clients clarify values, set goals, and build sustainable coping skills.

Michelle works with concerns across a broad range including caregiver stress, end-of-life and hospice issues, body image, communication difficulties, and challenges related to aging and intellectual disability. She offers therapy in English and provides services through various online formats to fit different needs and schedules.

Approaches that guide online care and skill building

Michelle blends cognitive behavioral techniques with acceptance-based and client-centered approaches to support change. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to distress and teaching practical skills to alter those patterns, which can be helpful for anxiety, panic, and mood concerns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages noticing difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values and committing to meaningful action, offering tools for coping with grief, life transitions, and chronic stress. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathic, nonjudgmental listening and meeting clients where they are to foster self-directed growth.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Michelle collaborates with clients to determine which methods fit their needs and goals. She draws from different techniques as appropriate and works together with each person to set priorities, experiment with strategies, and adjust the plan over time to match progress and preferences.

Online sessions are available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, providing flexibility for varied schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to access consistent care from California and to practice skills between meetings, while allowing clients to choose the communication style that best supports their engagement and daily life.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does this therapist help with?

Michelle supports people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, compassion fatigue, and coping with life changes. She also addresses related issues such as mood disorders, panic attacks, post-traumatic stress, and isolation.

What is the therapy style like?

Her work is collaborative and strengths-focused, combining practical skill-building with empathic listening to help clients set goals and develop coping strategies.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Michelle has 15 years of professional experience providing therapeutic support in a variety of settings.

What credentials and location are listed?

She is licensed as LCSW in California and practices under CA LCSW 61373.

Does she work with clients in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English only and she is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are available?

Therapy is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences.

How does cost and payment work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a brief matching questionnaire, and schedule a time based on the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Grief Depression Coping with life changes Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCommunication problemsGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disorders Panic disorder and panic attacks Post-traumatic stressSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobia

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

15+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English