Michelle Rittenour, LPC

Michelle Rittenour is a licensed professional counselor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. She works with individuals dealing with substance and alcohol concerns, grief, parenting strain, and career questions. Her approach is straightforward and focused on practical steps people can try between sessions.

Michelle centers the work on a respectful, collaborative relationship. Sessions are geared toward helping each person find meaning and clear next steps. She encourages clients to make choices that match their values and goals.

She draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thinking and build new coping skills. Michelle also uses client-centered methods to keep the conversation guided by the client's priorities. Narrative and mindfulness approaches are part of her toolbox when they fit the client's needs.

Michelle has 11 years of clinical experience across private practice and community settings. Much of her work has included group facilitation and prevention services for people affected by alcohol and drug dependency. She also brings experience supporting people through aging and caregiving stress.

She earned a bachelor of arts in psychology and a master of science in counseling and development from Texas Woman's University. Michelle also completed a certification in gerontology from the University of Texas at Arlington. Her LPC credential is held in Texas.

Sessions aim to be practical and paced to the client's life. Michelle helps people set achievable goals, practice new skills, and track progress over time.

How therapeutic approaches work online

Client-centered therapy focuses on keeping the conversation guided by what matters to the person. The therapist listens, reflects, and supports people to set their own goals and make decisions that fit their values. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions interact and teaches concrete skills to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is often useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the client about their goals, try different techniques, and adjust the plan based on what helps most. That collaborative process helps ensure sessions match the person's needs and preferences.

Online sessions can include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different rhythms of life. Video is useful for deeper conversations and nonverbal cues. Phone sessions or voice-only calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging let people share thoughts between meetings or keep regular contact without a scheduled call.

These options make therapy more flexible for work schedules, caregiving responsibilities, and people who prefer not to travel. The therapist will discuss which format best supports the client's goals and daily routine.