Michelle Gossard, LMHC

Michelle Gossard is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in Iowa with 15 years of clinical experience. She listens first, then helps people name what feels off and make practical changes. Her work focuses on everyday problems that leak into relationships, work, and wellbeing.

Michelle aims to build a calm, respectful space for people to tell their story. She treats clients as the experts on their lives and helps them find their own strengths. She also teaches skills to manage upsetting thoughts, strong emotions, and impulsive reactions.

Her style blends cognitive behavioral techniques with solution-focused and client-centered methods. That means sessions often include straightforward skill practice, goal-setting, and time to reflect on what matters most to the client. She encourages concrete steps and regular check-ins to track progress.

Michelle has worked in both clinical and military settings and brings that practical experience into session pacing and planning. She often helps people with anger, anxiety, stress, low self-esteem, grief, and ADHD-related struggles. She also supports clients facing midlife questions and life transitions.

Her approach is direct but warm, aiming for accountability and usable changes rather than only talk. People who want clear tools, brief action plans, and a collaborative therapist may find her approach helpful.

How her approaches shape online therapy

Michelle uses client-centered therapy to make space for each person's story and priorities, focusing on listening and building a trusting relationship. This approach helps people feel heard and sets the stage for change.

She also draws on cognitive behavioral therapy, which teaches practical strategies to notice and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. CBT is often useful for anxiety, panic, low mood, and stress. Solution-focused therapy is used to set clear, short-term goals and identify small steps that lead to visible progress. It works well when someone wants focused changes and concrete plans.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Michelle will work with clients to match methods to their goals and preferences, adjusting techniques as needs evolve. Expect conversations about what helps and regular check-ins to see if the plan is working.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also let therapists use worksheets, thought records, and goal-tracking tools between meetings to support steady progress.