THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES

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Healing Focus

As a therapist, I help you move beyond patterns and pain rooted in past experiences. I specialize in supporting adults affected by complex childhood experiences, including Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA), and Dysfunctional Families. I also work with clients navigating related challenges such as trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, or struggles with substance or alcohol use.

To help clients achieve deeper healing, I use evidence-based approaches including the Grief Recovery Method® and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)—powerful tools for processing difficult memories and reclaiming emotional well-being. My focus is on helping you feel understood, supported, and more regulated in your emotional experience.

EMDR Therapy: Processing Trauma & Deepening Healing

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a highly effective, evidence-based approach that helps the brain reprocess difficult memories, allowing you to move beyond emotional distress and feel safer in the present.

As an advanced practitioner, I offer a specialized, holistic form of trauma healing that addresses both the mind and body:

Somatic EMDR: We work not only with the thoughts and emotions connected to trauma but also with the physical sensations and nervous system responses stored in the body. This approach encourages deeper release and emotional regulation.
Integrating Parts Work: Many challenging patterns (such as perfectionism, people-pleasing, or self-criticism) are driven by protective "parts" (inner self-states) that developed during difficult experiences. I gently incorporate Parts Work into EMDR to help these parts feel understood and safe, allowing the healing process to move forward with less internal resistance and greater integration.

This integrated approach helps you address past pain at its root, supporting greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, and a stronger connection to yourself.

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Grief Recovery Method®

Grief is a natural response to significant emotional loss. While we often think first of death or divorce, it can also come from retirement, moving, losing a pet, health changes, financial stress, or other life transitions. Each person’s experience is unique, and compassionate support can help you process your feelings, find understanding, and gently move toward comfort and healing.

Michelle Slater, LPC, providing compassionate counseling at The Healing Couch for grief, trauma, and emotional support.

About Michelle

Hi, I’m Michelle, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. I support people as they navigate life’s challenges, heal from emotional struggles, and feel more connected to themselves. The way we move through the world is often influenced by our past, creating habits and patterns that can be hard to break. In my practice, I provide a warm and non-judgmental space to explore these connections, using a holistic approach that considers both your emotions and your body to support overall well-being.

I earned my Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling and my Bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of North Texas. I’ve worked in residential settings supporting people through trauma, addiction, and mental health struggles that can feel layered or complicated. I also co-facilitated a grief support group for five years, providing a compassionate space for people to process loss.

In our work together, we’ll explore how past experiences show up in your thoughts, responses, emotions, and body. My goal is to provide a supportive space where you can cultivate self-compassion, deepen your self-awareness, and strengthen your connection to yourself.

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