Michelle Gagnon

(She/Her)

LMFT

Currently accepting new clients.

Telehealth Availability:

Telehealth sessions are typically available Monday-Friday from 10am-4pm.

Clients I Work With

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, navigating a major life transition, struggling with OCD, processing trauma, or feeling disconnected from your creativity, therapy can help. I work with adults from all walks of life, with a special passion for supporting LGBTQ+ clients, writers, artists, and other creatives in building meaningful, fulfilling lives.

Approach

My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and tailored to your unique needs. I integrate evidence-based approaches including EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help you better understand yourself, heal from past experiences, and develop practical tools for lasting change. Together, we'll work toward reducing distress, building resilience, and creating a life that feels more authentic, balanced, and fulfilling.

Beliefs & Lived Experience

My path to becoming a therapist wasn't a traditional one, and I believe that's one of my greatest strengths. Before entering the field, I built a career as a bestselling novelist, where I learned firsthand about creativity, perfectionism, self-doubt, and the vulnerability that comes with putting your work into the world. I also spent years volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), supporting children and adolescents in the foster care system and witnessing both the effects of trauma and the incredible capacity for resilience. These experiences continue to shape the way I practice. I believe healing happens in relationships built on trust, curiosity, and compassion, and that therapy isn't about "fixing" who you are—it's about helping you reconnect with your strengths, understand the patterns that no longer serve you, and create a life that feels more authentic and fulfilling.

More About My Practice

I currently offer virtual therapy throughout the state of California.

Additional Credentials & Training

EMDRIA certified for polyvagal-informed EMDR, trained in DBT skills, IFS, Motivational Interviewing, CBT, Seeking Safety.

Ages Served

Adults (18+)
Older Adults (65+)
Young Adults (18-25)

Services Provided

Couples Therapy
Family Therapy
Individual Therapy
Parenting Therapy

Specialized Experience

Artists & Creative Professionals
Caregivers
LGBTQ+ Affirming
Self-Employed & Freelance Professionals
Trans-affirming care

Gender Identity

Woman

Languages Spoken

English

Faith Communities Served

Unitarian Universalist

Specializations

Modalities

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
EMDR
Emotion Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Motivational Interviewing
Narrative Therapy
Parts Work
Polyvagal Informed Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral (TF-CBT)

Specialties

Addiction
ADHD
Aging
Anger Management
Anxiety
Bipolar Disorder
Burnout
Depression
Executive Coaching
Gender Identity
Grief
Infidelity / Affair Recovery
Insomnia & Sleep Disorders
Life Transitions
Menopause & Perimenopause
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panic
Perfectionism
Phobias
Pregnancy, Postpartum & Perinatal Mental Health
Relationship Issues
Self Esteem
Self-Harming
Sexual Abuse
Substance Use
Trauma & PTSD
Women’s Mental Health

Insurance and Payment

Session Fees

$200

Insurance Notes

I am currently in network with United and Optum in California. I can also write you a superbill. Please reach out with any questions, I am happy to work with you to keep therapy affordable and have some sliding scale slots available.

Insurance Accepted

Optum
UnitedHealthcare UHC | UBH

State Licensed In

California