Michelle Richardson

Before transitioning into psychotherapy, Michelle spent over 25 years working in education, advocacy, inclusive support, and corporate learning and development. She has supported neurodivergent individuals, families, and professionals navigating emotional, behavioural, academic, relational, and systemic challenges. Her corporate background also provides insight into the pressures faced by professionals and high-performing individuals balancing career demands with personal well-being. 

Michelle has shared her expertise through writing and workshops on self-compassion, burnout, and sustainable self-care. As a mother of four and lifelong caregiver, she brings both personal and professional understanding of caregiver fatigue, grief and loss, health challenges, divorce, solo parenting, sandwich-generation responsibilities, and major life transitions—offering a grounded, compassionate perspective in her work. 

Michelle has completed extensive professional development in trauma-informed care, trauma-focused interventions, and evidence-based therapeutic practices, including Gottman Method Couples Therapy training. She draws from a range of evidence-based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, EFT-informed interventions, attachment-based and strengths-based approaches, mindfulness, psychoeducation, emotion regulation skills training, and trauma-informed care. Michelle also incorporates somatic and nervous system–informed strategies to support emotional regulation, stress reduction, and mind–body awareness. Her integrative approach helps clients understand emotional patterns, strengthen coping skills, improve relationships, build resilience, and create meaningful change. 

Michelle values psychoeducation as a catalyst for healing and empowerment. Guided by the principles of neuroplasticity, she helps clients understand the “why” behind their thoughts, emotions, and behaviours while building practical tools for resilience and growth. 

Michelle’s background in fitness, nutrition coaching, and elite-level athletic competition further informs her understanding of physical and emotional wellness, performance pressure, perfectionism, body image, and identity.