Dr. Michelle Turnbough
Empathetic CBT-informed therapist focused on practical growth
LCPC Illinois
- Experience
- 13 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Parenting
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Michelle
Dr. Michelle Turnbough brings a cognitive-behavioral foundation to her therapeutic work, blending CBT with client-centered, solution-focused, and motivational interviewing elements to help people address unhelpful thoughts and build practical coping strategies.
Background and approach
She holds an LCPC and uses a strengths-oriented approach that emphasizes dignity and respect while guiding clients toward measurable change.
With thirteen years of documented experience as a licensed counselor in Illinois, she has focused much of her practice on issues such as addiction, trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family concerns, and workplace or life-purpose struggles. Her style is described as warm, empathetic, and goal-oriented, prioritizing collaborative planning and realistic steps toward recovery and growth.
Dr. Turnbough has extensive background in addiction counseling and clinical leadership, and she draws on that experience when addressing substance-related concerns, domestic violence, panic and mood disorders, and compassion fatigue.
She helps clients explore patterns, set attainable goals, and develop skills for long-term resilience and self-compassion.
Combining practical therapies with flexible online care
Dr. Turnbough commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns and develop concrete coping skills for anxiety, depression, panic, and mood challenges. She also draws on Client-Centered Therapy to create a respectful, empathetic space where clients' perspectives guide the pace and goals of work, which can be especially helpful for processing trauma or building self-compassion. Motivational Interviewing is another tool she uses to support readiness for change, particularly when addressing addictions or behavioral shifts.Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and is done collaboratively. The therapist will work with each person to assess needs, priorities, and preferences and then adapt methods so treatment aligns with their goals and life circumstances. This helps ensure that interventions feel relevant and manageable rather than prescriptive.
Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for scheduling and different communication styles. These formats make it easier to maintain continuity of care, fit sessions into busy lives, and access consistent support regardless of location, while allowing licensed professionals to tailor techniques like CBT exercises, motivational conversations, and client-centered reflection to the medium that works best for the client.
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Licensed
Illinois
Languages
English