Michelle McHugh, LICSW, LCSW

Michelle McHugh is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 23 years of experience. She practices from a collaborative, down-to-earth stance and focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, depression, grief, relationship difficulties, sleep problems, and self-esteem concerns.

She draws on practical tools from cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and trauma-focused work to help people break unhelpful patterns. Sessions emphasize clear goals, step-by-step strategies, and skills that can be used between meetings. Michelle also brings experience with substance use concerns, codependency, bipolar mood disorders, and issues related to sexuality and gender.

Her background includes work in inpatient addiction and psychiatric settings and many years in outpatient mental health clinics. She has served in the Army National Guard as a behavioral health officer and has supported active guard soldiers and veterans. That work informs how she approaches trauma, first responder issues, and military-related concerns.

Michelle lists aging and geriatric issues among her focus areas and can help people facing life transitions and the challenges that come with getting older. She uses a respectful, non-stigmatizing tone and adapts methods to each person’s needs.

Michelle is licensed in Alabama and Arkansas and sees clients in Arkansas. Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients. To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to therapist availability.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Michelle often uses cognitive-behavioral therapy to help people notice and change patterns of thinking and behavior. CBT provides concrete steps such as activity planning and thought records that people can practice between sessions to manage anxiety, mood, and sleep issues.

She also uses EMDR as a trauma-focused option to address disturbing memories and strong reactions. EMDR involves guided attention and structured processing to help reduce the intensity of traumatic memories and the symptoms they cause.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michelle will collaborate with each person to choose which methods fit their goals, needs, and comfort level, and she will adjust the plan as progress is made.

Confirm the current online session options before booking. When arranged, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. If someone prefers a specific way of meeting, discuss options during the matching process so sessions can be planned to suit everyday life.