About Michelle
Michelle Lehto Flores is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) based in Illinois who focuses on addictions, anger, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, and depression.
Background and approach
She brings nine years of clinical experience and a background in forensic psychology to her practice, and her work also addresses related concerns such as drug and alcohol addiction, mood disorders, co-morbidity, and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. Her lived experience informs an empathetic perspective on mental health and barriers to care.
Her style is described as warm, nonjudgmental, and collaborative, with an emphasis on practical skill-building and clarity. Michelle uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, solution-focused methods, and mindfulness to help clients develop coping strategies, improve communication, and work through family and blended-family challenges, immigration-related stress, guilt and shame, isolation, and life-purpose questions.
Clients can expect a strengths-based approach that honors where they are while encouraging gradual, meaningful change. Michelle supports work around forgiveness, financial stress, paranoia, midlife transitions, and relationship problems, guiding people toward greater stability and a renewed sense of direction.
Evidence-Based Methods and Accessible Online Care
Michelle commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps people identify unhelpful thinking patterns and learn practical skills to change emotions and behaviors, often supporting work on depression, anxiety, and mood disturbances. She also draws on solution-focused techniques that concentrate on clients' strengths and short-term goals to create concrete steps for change and momentum in areas like addiction recovery, communication problems, and life-purpose concerns.Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Michelle partners with clients to determine what fits best based on their needs, goals, and preferences. This collaborative process allows for adjustments over time so interventions remain relevant and focused on what the client wants to achieve.
Online therapy with Michelle is available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to access care from home or work, maintain continuity during life transitions, and fit therapy into a busy life while still engaging with a licensed professional.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Addictions
- Anger management
- Self esteem
Also works with
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Co-morbidity
- Communication problems
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Paranoia
- Personality disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
- Experience
- 9 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English