Taiwo (She/Her) was born and raised in New York City, specifically in Queens and Brooklyn. She is a licensed mental health counselor and holds a master’s degree in mental health counseling from CUNY Brooklyn College. As someone who is voraciously curious and naturally empathetic, Taiwo has always had an ardent desire to understand the inner workings of the mind, which has allowed her to have vast experience in working a diverse demographic. As a first-generation Nigerian American woman, it has been Taiwo’s mission to provide access to those who are underrepresented with the tools they need to overcome their obstacles and heal from their pain. It has been her pleasure to serve those who need it and may not have the resources to access that help, especially because she has experience dealing with financial, racial and emotional hardships. She has provided adolescents and young and middle-aged adults with complex trauma, self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, personality disorders, anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns in diverse clinical settings.  

In treatment with Taiwo, she utilizes an eclectic approach utilizing methods from EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), interpersonal psychodynamic therapy, CBT (Cognitive Based Therapy), somatic approaches, ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy) and MBT (Mentalization Based Treatment). She believes that one must be present with their inner experiences without shame or judgment to heal from past or present trauma, which is the proactive of mindfulness. Taiwo employs a collaborative and relational approach to treatment, ensuring that the client’s needs are in the forefront of the treatment process. She expels authenticity and warmth that allows the client to feel safe and attended to. Taiwo will work with the client to help them reach their goals, but it will be at a pace that is up to the client as she believes the session is about the client and their emotional safety.  

When working with Taiwo, she will challenge you to assist you in getting out of your comfort zone because discomfort, but with a safe space, is needed to grow and heal. She will also remind you to be kind and compassionate to yourself, as the practice of self-compassion is essential in her treatment process and to one’s healing in general. She hopes that the client will utilize these tools for the rest of their healing journeys.

Michelle is a master’s level counselor who approaches the therapeutic process from an integrative medicine lens, exploring concerns of mind, body, and spirit to help clients achieve optimal wellness. She works with individuals experiencing a range of mental and physical health concerns, including anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, substance abuse, and chronic physical pain. She uses evidence-based treatment models, including humanistic-existential therapy, behavioral therapy, and somatic therapy, to get to the root cause of mental health concerns and connect clients to their innate capacity for personal growth and healing. She also works with couples and is skilled at empathetically supporting couples as they navigate conflict, communication, and intimacy. Her couple’s work is informed by Imago therapy, Gottman Method, and the Non-Violent Communication framework. 

Michelle fosters a safe and accepting space for clients to explore their needs and collaborates with clients to create a tailored treatment plan. She lovingly empowers individuals to take control of their life and achieve self-determined goals. Michelle is a warm, caring, creative, and humorous therapist who deeply cares about the suffering of others. It is her heart-filled mission to help people connect to their strengths, values, and life purpose, so they can live a more fulfilling life. 

Michelle is in her final year in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Saybrook University. She also holds a Master of Science in Mind-Body Medicine from Saybrook University’s College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences. Her research focused on the effectiveness of mind-body therapies in treating chronic health disorders within Mind-Body Medicine from Saybrook University’s College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences. Her research focused on the effectiveness of mind-body therapies in treating chronic health disorders, with a focus on gastrointestinal conditions (e.g., irritable bowel syndrome). Michelle is passionate about the mind-body connection and its role in chronic illness. She is also a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC) and is adept at using holistic healthcare practices proven to reduce stress, anxiety, and pain while optimizing sleep and self-care. Before entering the health and healing space, Michelle was a corporate executive with 15+ years of experience leading high performing teams. 

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