Michele Koenes, LMSW, LCSW

Michele Koenes is a licensed social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and life transitions. She works with adults and older adults and brings 11 years of experience to sessions. Michele aims to create a calm, respectful space where people can talk and set the pace for their work together.

Michele draws on time spent in both inpatient and outpatient settings. She has also practiced as a litigation attorney and taught in academic settings, experiences she says sharpened her communication and listening skills. Those varied roles influence how she explains options and helps people make choices.

Her style is collaborative and responsive. Michele listens for each person’s priorities and adapts her approach to match personality and needs. She emphasizes empathy and slow pacing so people feel understood and can build on small changes.

Therapeutic methods she uses include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy. Those approaches offer different tools for dealing with thoughts, emotions, relationships, and coping skills.

Michele has worked with a broad range of concerns that include caregiver stress, aging and geriatric issues, trauma and abuse, ADHD, eating and sleeping problems, chronic pain or illness, and relationship and family of origin issues. She frames therapy as a place for practical problem solving alongside emotional processing.

People who choose Michele can expect a steady, respectful partner in therapy who helps them sort priorities, practice new skills, and manage change at a comfortable pace.

Approaches for online counseling and coping work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice thoughts without getting stuck in them and choose actions that align with their values. It often helps with anxiety, low mood, and life transitions by focusing on what matters rather than on trying to control every thought.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and teaches concrete skills to change unhelpful patterns. It is commonly used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and coping with stressful situations.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and communication skills that can help with strong emotions, relationship struggles, and impulsive behaviors.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick or blend methods that fit their goals, needs, and preferences. This is a joint process that can be adjusted over time as priorities change.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know what formats are available. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life by reducing travel time and allowing check-ins between other commitments. They also let people choose quieter surroundings, use audio-only when needed, or schedule shorter meetings for focused skill practice, depending on the offered options.