- Years in practice
- 11
- Credentials
- LPC
- Licensed in
- Texas
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Addictions
- Focus
- Relationship issues
About Michelle
Michelle Rittenour, LPC, helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by change, loss, or relationship strain. She speaks plainly and works alongside clients to identify practical steps toward clearer goals. Michelle focuses on what matters most to each person and keeps sessions grounded in real-life concerns.
She draws on 11 years of experience in independent practice and community settings. Much of her past work involved group facilitation and prevention for people affected by alcohol and drug dependency.
Background and approach
That background informs how she supports those managing addiction, grief, depression, anxiety, and stress. Michelle uses approaches that emphasize the client’s perspective. She listens first, then suggests strategies such as cognitive-behavioral techniques and mindfulness exercises to shift unhelpful thinking and ease daily tension.
Narrative and existential ideas help people reframe their story and clarify values when life feels uncertain. Many sessions are straightforward and action-oriented. A typical meeting might include checking recent progress, practicing a coping skill, and setting one small goal for the week.
Michelle also leads group-format work drawn from her earlier community practice when that fits a person’s needs. She trained at Texas Woman’s University, earning a master’s degree in Counseling and Development, and has a certification in gerontology from the University of Texas at Arlington. Michelle practices in Texas and conducts sessions in English.
What Michelle works with
Everything Michelle lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Michelle helps people with.
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Coping with life changes
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- Forgiveness
- Hoarding
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Women's issues
Approaches Michelle lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Approaches for online support and practical change
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person’s perspective. The therapist listens without judgment and follows the client’s lead to help them name goals and make choices. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect; it offers practical skills to test and change unhelpful thinking and reduce symptoms like anxiety or depression.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Michelle will talk with each client about their goals and preferences, try strategies together, and adjust methods over time. The aim is to match tools to the situation rather than push one fixed method.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which add flexibility to scheduling. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation when visual cues matter. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief updates, coaching-style feedback, and ongoing reminders between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and sustain progress over time.
Questions people ask about Michelle
What kinds of concerns does Michelle help with?
She works with a range of issues including addiction, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, parenting questions, stress, trauma, and career concerns.
What is her therapy style like?
Sessions are collaborative and down-to-earth. Michelle listens closely, then offers practical steps such as cognitive strategies, mindfulness exercises, and narrative reframing.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Michelle has 11 years of experience in independent practice and community settings, including group facilitation and prevention work with people affected by substance dependency.
What credentials and region apply to her practice?
She holds the LPC credential and practices in Texas.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available online?
Michelle offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and preferences.
How are costs and getting started handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule based on therapist availability.
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