Hey there! I’m Michele.
I grew up in Central California, in a working-class community that faced a lot of adversity. For many, the way to cope was through medication, drugs, or addiction. I saw the impact that had around me, and while I was lucky to have supportive people in my life, it also made me fiercely independent at a very young age.
I was determined not to fall into the same traps I watched others fall into, and I’ll admit—I also had a point to prove.
As a teen and young adult, I was told I “wasn’t a people person” (the irony of becoming a therapist, right?). That lit a fire in me; not only to prove others wrong but also to prove to myself that I could succeed. I achieved a lot early on, but if I’m honest, I grew up a little too fast.
By 23, I had bought my first home and was working as an account executive in telecommunications. I thought I had “made it,” but success came with a cost. I was burned out, stuck, and completely unsure of how to take care of myself while still pushing forward. Eventually, a toxic work environment and a bad boss pushed me over the edge, and I got fired.
That’s when I finally decided to try therapy.
I didn’t know what to expect, I just knew I wanted and needed a space to work through everything without all the noise. But within fifteen minutes of my first session, I walked out with three prescriptions. I didn’t fill those prescriptions and definitely did not go back.
Still, I knew I needed help. I tried again, and eventually I found the right therapist, a social worker, who also happened to be one of my college professors. She introduced me to the idea of social work, and after one class, I was hooked. For the first time, I felt like I had found the thing I was meant to do.
It wasn’t easy. School was a grind, and I fought for every bit of progress. But my determination grew even stronger when I lost one of my first close friends in North Dakota to suicide. That grief layered with old, unresolved losses, shook me. And yet, it also gave me my why.
Since that loss, I’ve moved around a lot, different states, different countries, exploring new cultures, and ways of living. Along the way, I’ve worked in this field in many capacities: inpatient settings, supporting active-duty military, and now in private practice. Each step has deepened not only my understanding of others but also my understanding of myself. Through this journey, I’ve found not just my why, but also my how.
I knew I wanted to be the kind of therapist who could sit with people in their hardest moments, without fear of grief, loss, or pain. Someone who could walk with them as they untangled the messy parts of life, while also celebrating the wins. Someone who could meet them where and how they are, without fear of judgement or having to adapt to me.
These experiences shaped not only who I am as a person but also the way I show up as a therapist. I know what it feels like to carry the weight of responsibility while quietly struggling yourself. I know what it means to want to achieve, while also needing space to heal.
That’s why one of my greatest joys is supporting people who are always the helpers, the ones who put themselves last. You deserve a place to lay it all down, to be comforted when you grieve, and to be cheered on when you succeed.
So if you’re ready, let’s begin.
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Saturday and Sunday appointments are available 1-2 times a month
4806 E Camp Lowell Dr
Tucson AZ 85712