Michelle Wincell OLeary

Michelle Wincell OLeary is a Minnesota-based licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) with 28 years of experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, anger, grief, depression, career challenges, and parenting concerns. Her work also includes coaching for personal and professional growth.

Michelle aims to create an open, judgment-free space where clients can share thoughts and feelings. She invites people to bring their own goals and leads with curiosity rather than prescription. Meditation, self-care practices, and inner exploration are often part of sessions when they fit a person’s needs.

Her approach blends client-centered listening with practical steps and exploration of inner patterns. She uses solution-focused techniques to set achievable goals and motivational interviewing to strengthen commitment to change. Psychodynamic ideas help uncover repeated relationship or emotional patterns when that is useful.

Michelle also pays attention to compassion fatigue and wellbeing, offering tools to rebuild resilience and balance. She acknowledges cultural, spiritual, and personal values in the work and seeks to honor each person’s background and beliefs.

Because she lives and practices in Minnesota, she understands local community dynamics and recent regional stresses. She describes her role as guide, coach, and supporter - helping people learn new ways of coping and grow toward the life they want.

How therapeutic approaches guide online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the person’s lead. The therapist reflects what she hears and helps clients find their own solutions, which suits issues like low self-esteem and relationship worries. Mindfulness Therapy brings simple awareness practices into daily life, such as breath work or short meditations, to reduce reactivity and support coping with anxiety and anger. Motivational Interviewing helps people clarify what they want to change and builds the motivation to take small, practical steps toward those goals.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with the client to choose methods that match the person’s needs and goals. That collaborative decision is revisited as progress is made, so therapy stays aligned with what matters most to the client.

Please confirm available session options before booking, as formats are not listed here. Many people find online sessions helpful because they can fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten travel time, or allow a quieter check-in during a work break. Online meetings can also make it easier to practice mindfulness and coaching tools in the context of everyday life. Licensed professionals tailor pacing and techniques to what works best for each person.