Michelle Anderson

Because several of my family members were social workers, I’ve always known I wanted to get into the helping profession. As I got older and was exposed to different settings through volunteering, internships, and college classes, I realized that my passion lay in understanding people’s unique worldviews, beliefs, and experiences. Providing therapy felt like a natural progression. It’s been a great honor to walk with people through challenges and growth.

I spent five years working at a psychiatric hospital, where I witnessed people recover and live meaningful lives after struggling with severe and persistent mental illnesses. I learned there can be so much stigma and misunderstanding around diagnoses, even among professionals. I enjoy providing therapy to people who are struggling and breaking down misconceptions about OCD.

I'm especially interested in the intersections of sexuality, gender, race, and class. I've worked with women experiencing trauma and PTSD, people with severe and persistent mental illnesses, people struggling with addiction and co-occurring disorders, and families experiencing trauma. I recently completed an early childhood fellowship and have an interest in early childhood development and trauma.

ERP can be challenging and scary at first, but growth is achieved when we push ourselves out of our comfort zone. Therapy is uncomfortable, but living with unchecked symptoms is arguably worse.

Shame or embarrassment are normal feelings to have during therapy, especially for people struggling with OCD. It may take time for those feelings to dissipate. Know that sharing gets easier with time, and this is your space to share when you’re ready.