Dr. Michelle Andersen

PhD, Registered Psychologist

Healing is not linear. How do I know this? Because this is my experience.   

I am a clinical psychologist with 18 years of professional experience. Several of said years took place in the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs with combat soldiers.  These courageous men and women permitted me to learn the complexities of trauma and that a one-size-fits-all approach is seldom therapeutic.  

Prior to the VA, my work as a staff psychologist in private medical hospitals was valuable because I gained exposure to the impact biological, psychological and social forces have on mood. What emerged from this experience was my holistic approach to treatment.  As such, some of my recommendations may include components of behavioral medicine.

Interpersonal relationships and the quality of our attachments to others is profound. While training as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), I was privileged to work with individuals, couples, and families who showed me that most interpersonal issues occur within a co-created context.  Understanding the effects of relationships, (for good or for ill) on developmental processes established the scaffolding upon which I continue to lean in my current practice.  

My goal as a clinician is to render myself irrelevant. In other words, removing barriers to the natural recovery process with the intention of eventuating myself out of the picture. Therapy is a means to building a life worth living, not an end.

Educational Background:

Doctorate in Clinical Psychology:  George Fox

Master of Science, Psychology and Child Development:  California Polytechnic

Bachelor of Arts: Psychology: University of California, Santa Barbara

Specializations:

Trauma

Health

Neurocognitive Disorders

Certifications:

ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)

CPT (Cognitive Processing Therapy)

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)

PE (Prolonged Exposure)

EFT-C (Emotion Focused Therapy for Couples)

B-Med (Behavioral Medicine)