Justine Michael-Gilbert

Taking that first step on your healing journey can be terrifying and relieving at the same time – I appreciate the strength and courage it takes to come to therapy. Whether you’re struggling to manage day-to-day life due to recent stressors, or you’ve been in a difficult place for a long time, therapy can be a great way to sort through what’s happening in a caring, warm, and supportive environment. I fully believe in collaborating with each individual client to tailor what treatment and goals will look like for them. You as the client are the expert on your life, and you have all the capabilities of healing within you – I am just here to walk alongside you on the journey.

I provide individual therapy at CARE Counseling for adults, with areas of focus in anxiety, depression, trauma, attachment, interpersonal relationships, gender and sexuality, identity issues and concerns, and women’s issues. I am informed through Person-Centered Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, as well as Feminist Therapy, and Relational Cultural Therapy. Knowing where a person has come from in the past, how society and culture, as well as significant relationships with others, affect them as an individual, and what is happening in the present are all vital aspects to me. Those factors will help us find goals and make treatment fulfilling for you.

During my undergraduate, I studied Psychology with a Mental Health Emphasis and a Women and Gender Studies minor at the University of Wisconsin River Falls, earning my Bachelors of Science. I received my Masters of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Wisconsin Stout with concentrations in Alcohol and Other Drugs of Addiction, Trauma, Crisis, and Eating Disorders. While earning my Masters, I interned at a community school district and worked with adolescents and teens. There, I experienced a variety of concerns from my clients, anywhere from anxiety and learning coping skills, to PTSD and sexual assault.

I grew up in rural Wisconsin, but have always enjoyed the vibrancy of a big city. In my free time, I enjoy taking walks in nature, cuddling with my cats and fiancé, curling up with a good book, and passing hours with a relaxing video game. Thanks for reading about me, and I hope we get to walk this journey together.