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MB Portrait of Michelle Bonner

Michelle Bonner

Compassionate, practical therapy for families and individuals

LMFT California

Experience
17 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Family, Parenting
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Michelle

About Michelle

Michelle Bonner is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 17 years of clinical experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, family conflicts, parenting challenges, self-esteem struggles, and life transitions.

Background and approach

She draws on practical, evidence-informed methods to address trauma, mood concerns, and communication problems while attending to multicultural factors, caregiver stress, and issues related to adoption and foster care. Michelle blends client-centered listening with structured techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy and trauma-focused strategies to create treatment plans that fit each person or family.

She aims to offer a compassionate, respectful space where clients’ concerns about domestic violence, sexual assault, disruptive mood dysregulation, prejudice and discrimination, and other sensitive topics can be explored at a manageable pace. Her work emphasizes clear goals, skill-building, and collaboration so people can gain coping skills, strengthen relationships, and increase self-love.

Practicing in California as an LMFT (CA LMFT 87977), Michelle adapts sessions to individual needs and schedules and encourages prospective clients to take the first step toward change by reaching out and discussing their priorities.

Approaches for Online Work and Practical Support



Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to distress and learning practical skills to change them; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathic listening and collaboration, giving clients space to set priorities and explore concerns at their own pace while the therapist supports growth and self-understanding. Mindfulness therapy teaches awareness of present-moment experience and tools to respond to difficult emotions with greater calm, which can help with rumination, stress, and emotional regulation.

Finding the right approach is part of the work, and the therapist treats selection of techniques as a collaborative process. She will discuss clients' goals, preferences, and symptoms and combine elements from different methods to create a plan that fits the individual's life and priorities.

Online sessions offer practical flexibility through video calls, phone appointments, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules or attend from home. These formats support continuity of care, allow for varied styles of engagement, and let clients choose the mode that best matches their communication preferences and daily routine.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?
She supports people coping with stress, anxiety, family and parenting difficulties, self-esteem problems, and life changes, plus related issues such as trauma, mood disorders, and communication challenges.
What is her therapeutic style and approach?
Her style combines client-centered listening with structured methods like cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, solution-focused techniques, and trauma-informed approaches to tailor care to each person's needs.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings 17 years of professional experience working with individuals and families on a range of concerns from parenting to post-traumatic stress and multicultural issues.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California with the credential CA LMFT 87977 and practices from that state.
Does she offer services in other languages or accept international clients?
She provides services in English only and is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies based on location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved in getting started?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a session according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsParenting issuesSelf esteemCoping with life changes

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Domestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsMood disordersMulticultural concernsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSelf-loveSexual assault and abuse

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

17+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English