Michelle Goodwater , LMHC

Michelle Goodwater is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) practicing in Washington State with seven years of clinical experience. She has worked with clients who have faced combat trauma, military sexual trauma, childhood abuse and childhood sexual abuse, survivors of rape, depression, anxiety, relationship challenges, career-related concerns, sleep difficulties, grief, traumatic brain injury (TBI), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She has also supported many people who experienced physical trauma or emotional abuse.

Her therapy style is warm and interactive, grounded in respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and she avoids stigmatizing labels. She draws on a blend of cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, psychodynamic, and solution-focused methods to shape a collaborative treatment plan. Conversations and therapeutic goals are adapted to reflect each person's individual needs, preferences, and life circumstances.

Seeking help is a courageous step toward greater well-being, and Michelle aims to empower clients as they pursue meaningful change. She offers steady clinical guidance and practical strategies while honoring each person’s strengths and pace as they work toward more fulfilling outcomes.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Michelle integrates client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and EMDR into her work. Client-centered therapy focuses on providing a warm, empathetic space where therapists follow the client's lead and build on the individual's strengths, which can be especially helpful for relationship concerns, attachment issues, and feelings of emptiness. CBT helps identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, and coping with life changes. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused approach that can assist people processing traumatic memories and related symptoms. Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Michelle works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative planning allows therapists and clients to adjust strategies over time as progress and priorities evolve. Online therapy options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging make it easier to access licensed professionals from different locations and on varied schedules. These formats provide flexibility for people balancing work, family, or mobility constraints, and they allow consistent continuity of care when in-person visits are not feasible.