My practice is one of acceptance. My space is a judgement free zone.
I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, driven by a passion for assisting individuals and intimate partners with diverse needs. Regardless of what your needs are, I will always consider how all of the relationships in your life are contributing to the reason you called. As an MFT, I veer away from focusing solely on the individual and instead include other interpersonal connections in a person’s life, such as family of origin, intergenerational patterns, peers, friendships, intimate and romantic relationships, work environment, race, gender, culture, and the broader community.
I believe in an integrative, holistic, and mindful approach. I combine a variety of therapeutic tools and methods to fit the needs of my clients. No two peoples' stories are the same so therefore, my approach to our work is entirely unique to you, led by you, and curated for you. Whatever your individual reasons for seeking therapy may be, you will be met with curiosity and commitment. We will integrate the wealth of information that psychology has to offer about how humans think, feel, and react with your own personal beliefs and experiences to meet your goals. Most often, I will incorporate a mix of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and the Gottman Method into my practice. In my experience, no single form of therapy is right for everyone.
Meet Michelle Butler, LMFT
I am gentle - but I am also direct. I am empathetic - but I will also challenge you. I am professional - but I am also relaxed and approachable. I welcome humor into the therapeutic space, recognizing that sometimes a touch of humor is exactly what we need to alleviate anxiety, foster authentic connections, and even gain perspective at times.
Each person's experience is seen through the lens that we have created, narrated by our inner voice. Often, this inner voice—what makes us uniquely ourselves—can become obscured by trauma, doubt, anxiety, anger, fear, or conflict, as well as by moments of triumph, new chapters, and fulfilled dreams. My therapeutic approach revolves around uncovering that inner voice, which steers us toward our desires, our sense of what's right, and the healing we may require. The same is true for relationships. We will work to find the collective voice of the unit and bring everyone back into alignment.
I work with individual adults and couples (ages 18 and up) looking to restore balance in their lives. I specialize in relationship issues, anxiety, depression, women’s issues, grief, and trauma therapy. I am honored to work with individuals of any gender expression, sexual orientation, relationship model, race, culture, religion, age, size and disability. I am a sex-positive therapist working from an antiracist, intersectional, trauma-informed perspective.
Together, we will determine your goals and develop a collaborative and customized treatment plan.
Education
In 2017 I earned my MA in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy from the Graduate School of Education and Counseling at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon. During that time I learned to recognize the interconnections among biological, psychological, and social systems in people's lived experience. In my practice, I am able to self-reflect on the implications of my own and others’ social locations, demonstrate attention to social justice and cultural democracy, and integrate family therapy theory with equity and social location issues.