Michelle (Sheli) Miller

Compassionate, evidence-informed therapy for life transitions

LCSW California

Experience: 18 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Grief, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Michelle

Michelle (Sheli) Miller draws on 18 years of clinical experience and a client-centered outlook to help people build greater stability and healthier relationships.

Background and approach

Sheli is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in California who combines practical skills with empathic listening to support clients facing stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, career shifts, and life changes. Her work blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with mindfulness, dialectical strategies, and motivational interviewing to create tailored plans that address both thoughts and behaviors.

Her professional background includes practice in hospitals, community agencies, domestic violence centers, youth organizations, and independent practice, giving her exposure to diverse life circumstances. She emphasizes a strengths-based approach, learning from each client’s perspective and integrating family systems, positive psychology, and other resources when helpful.

Sheli values sensitivity, respect, and nonjudgmental curiosity as she partners with clients to set actionable goals and foster coping skills. Born and raised in the Bay Area, Sheli appreciates serving communities that shaped her, and she draws on personal growth and her own therapeutic journey to inform her practice.

She supports work around relationships, addiction, trauma and abuse, intimacy concerns, parenting and caregiver stress, end-of-life and hospice issues, and other complex challenges, aiming to help clients move toward practical improvement and lasting resilience.

Evidence-Informed Approaches Delivered Online

Michelle (Sheli) Miller integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy into her online work. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms like anxiety, depression, and stress, while client-centered methods emphasize empathy, active listening, and collaboration to help clients clarify goals and build self-direction. She also uses Dialectical Behavior Therapy strategies when appropriate to teach emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance skills for challenges like intense emotions or relationship conflict.

Determining which combination of approaches fits best is a collaborative process. Sheli partners with clients to understand their goals, preferences, and life context, and she adjusts therapeutic strategies over time so treatment remains practical and aligned with what the client needs to accomplish.

Online therapy with Sheli is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for busy schedules and different communication styles. These remote formats make it easier to access continuity of care from California locations and allow clients to use the tools and skills from sessions in real-world contexts between appointments.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?

Sheli works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship and family problems, addiction, trauma and abuse, intimacy issues, parenting and caregiver stress, sleeping problems, and career concerns.

What therapeutic approaches are used in sessions?

She uses a blend of client-centered methods, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness techniques, and motivational interviewing to tailor treatment to each client’s needs.

How much clinical experience does the therapist have?

Sheli brings 18 years of experience working in settings such as hospitals, community agencies, domestic violence centers, youth organizations, and independent practice.

What are the therapist's credentials and location?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the license CA LCSW 27632 and practices in California.

Are sessions offered in languages other than English or to international clients?

Sessions are conducted in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

Which session formats are available for remote care?

Clients can meet by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on preference and availability.

How is cost handled for ongoing sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; services are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Grief Self esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesDepressionCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCo-morbidityCommitment issuesCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)EmptinessFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisPanic disorder and panic attacksPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

18+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English