Michelle Stanton White, LMFT

Michelle Stanton White is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship challenges. She also supports those facing caregiver strain, aging and geriatric issues, gender dysphoria concerns, and questions about intimacy or identity. Michelle speaks English and Vietnamese and works from a California practice.

She left a career in the computer industry to pursue therapy because she wants to help people lead better lives. Michelle takes an active, collaborative stance in sessions. She helps clients notice self-defeating patterns, try different ways of thinking, and make clearer choices about next steps.

Michelle draws on several practical approaches, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Client-Centered Therapy. She may blend tools to fit the concern - whether that is coping with grief, improving sleep, or easing caregiver stress. The emphasis is on clear, doable steps rather than abstract theory.

In sessions she aims to build a warm, trusting relationship first. From there she and the client work together to set realistic goals and try changes that feel manageable. Over time the focus becomes sustaining improvements and handling new life challenges.

With nine years of clinical experience as an LMFT in California, Michelle supports people through ordinary and complex transitions. To begin, prospective clients complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule according to therapist availability.

How her approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and creating a supportive space so people can talk through what matters to them. It helps when someone needs acceptance and clearer self-understanding. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches concrete skills to reduce anxiety, improve mood, and change unhelpful habits. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal skills for managing intense feelings and conflict.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michelle will collaborate with each person to choose techniques that match their goals and preferences. Together they review what helps, adjust methods as needed, and set small, achievable steps so progress feels realistic.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session options before booking since formats are not specified in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It can also let someone continue consistent care while managing caregiving responsibilities or other life demands.