Meet Dr. Michelle Sibol

What inspired you to pursue a career as a therapist?

My path to becoming a therapist involved some soul searching and exploration. An early interest in psychology and biology led me to study neuroscience in college, where I discovered that research and medicine were not the right fit for me. During my senior year, a psychology course focused on case studies and treatment approaches sparked my passion for clinical work and deepened my interest in working directly with people.

I realized I wanted a career where I could make a meaningful impact through connection and understanding. Being naturally empathic, emotionally attuned, and a thoughtful listener felt aligned with both who I am and the work of therapy, ultimately guiding me toward this profession.

What is your favorite thing about being a therapist?

What I value most about being a therapist is the shared human experience of growth. I hold my clients’ stories with deep care and respect, while also allowing myself to be impacted by them. This work reminds me that therapy is a reciprocal process—one where I have the power to support healing, and where clients also help me learn, grow, and evolve.

What are your specialties and what drew you to them?

Through my graduate training and clinical work, I came to understand that while clients may present with different symptoms or diagnoses, their underlying needs are often the same: to feel seen, heard, known, and safe in their bodies. Many of the symptoms clients seek therapy for are rooted in trauma histories that disrupt their ability to feel regulated, connected, and fulfilled. I work from a trauma-informed lens, treating concerns such as anxiety, depression, perfectionism, childhood trauma, PTSD and complex PTSD, phobias, and body image issues. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, I explore when a belief or behavior developed and how it helped the client survive their circumstances.

I also specialize in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. I became drawn to EMDR after noticing that many clients intellectually understood their challenges but continued to feel stuck physiologically. EMDR goes beyond traditional talk therapy by helping the body process and release distressing memories and deeply held beliefs, allowing true integration and healing. I have seen EMDR support meaningful shifts in clients’ sense of safety and self-worth. I view my role not as fixing problems, but as walking alongside clients as they build trust and safety within themselves.

I also enjoy working with parents who want to build stronger, more connected relationships with their children. Much of my work with adults involves identifying unmet attachment needs and helping clients “reparent” the parts of themselves that require care and compassion. I bring these same principles into parent work by helping parents heal their own attachment wounds, better understand child development, and respond to their children’s behavior with greater empathy and connection. A secure parent-child relationship lays the foundation for emotional regulation, self-esteem, and healthy relationships throughout life.

Another population I enjoy working with are men who feel disconnected from themselves and their relationships. These clients may identify as workaholics or rely on behaviors such as binge eating, drinking, pornography use, or infidelity to cope with underlying emotional pain. During my postdoctoral fellowship, I found meaningful work in helping men approach these patterns with compassion, understand what those behaviors have been protecting them from, and foster reconnection with themselves and others.

What makes you unique as a therapist?

One aspect of my work that feels especially important to me is my ongoing commitment to my own healing and growth. I know firsthand what it’s like to sit on the client side of the therapy room, and that experience keeps me grounded in humility and empathy. Tending to my own inner work allows me to show up as a more present, curious, and steady companion for my clients.

How would you describe your therapeutic approach?

My therapeutic approach is grounded in creating a safe, warm, and attuned space where clients feel seen, understood, and respected. I prioritize building a trusting relationship through empathy, curiosity, and genuine care for who each client is as a person. Rather than focusing on fixing problems, I help clients develop greater tolerance for uncertainty, approach wounded parts of themselves with compassion, and cultivate a sense of safety within their bodies that supports deeper connection with themselves and others.

I work from a trauma-informed, nonpathologizing lens, viewing symptoms as adaptive responses rather than flaws. I support clients in exploring difficult experiences and internal parts at their own pace, emphasizing choice, collaboration, and client autonomy throughout the therapeutic process.

What is your favorite quote?

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou 

This quote guides how I try to show up with clients. When I feel stuck or unsure of the “right” thing to say or do, it reminds me that presence matters more than perfection. Simply listening with curiosity, kindness, and care is often enough. It helps me release the pressure to have all the answers and return to what’s most meaningful in the work: showing up fully and authentically. These are the same messages I hope my clients come to embody for themselves.

What is one thing that is important for anyone to know?

Healing requires time, patience, and gentleness. When someone breaks a leg, we don’t expect them to immediately run again—we allow time for rest and support the body in gradually regaining strength, one small step at a time. Healing from trauma is much the same. It can be uncomfortable and painful at times, and it requires honoring the need for rest before full functioning is possible. With care and patience, the body and mind can slowly return to a place of strength and balance.

What is your take on a current social issue?

I care deeply about the growing issue of chronic loneliness, which I see affecting mental health across all ages. In our increasingly digital world, technology often replaces genuine human connection, leaving many people feeling isolated despite constant online interaction. I believe much of what we are experiencing today—rising anxiety, depression, and disconnection—stems from a lack of real community and meaningful relationships. This awareness informs my work as a therapist, as I strive to help clients cultivate authentic connection, belonging, and emotional presence in their lives.