- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Speaks English and Japanese
About Michelle
Michelle Ikeda is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with four years of clinical experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strains, parenting concerns, self-esteem and family challenges. She also supports clients dealing with grief, intimacy issues, career transitions, and coping with life changes.
Ikeda uses a client-centered approach that keeps the person’s priorities in focus. She combines practical strategies from cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused techniques to address day-to-day problems. Motivational interviewing is used when people want help clarifying values and making changes.
Her background includes social services and healthcare settings, including work with child welfare, custody and guardianship matters. She has experience supporting caregivers and family members of people with dementia, and she has helped those connected to adoption, foster care, and developmental disability concerns such as autism.
Ikeda is bilingual in English and Japanese and draws on her bicultural experience to understand cultural expectations and communication styles. She mentions family of origin issues among her focus areas, helping people notice how early family roles and expectations still affect their choices today.
In sessions she focuses on clear communication skills, practical problem solving, and building coping strategies for stressful situations. She explains concepts plainly and helps people set concrete next steps. To start, clients complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How therapeutic approaches are used in online sessions
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening closely to the person's concerns and reflecting them back. It aims to identify what matters most to the client and to shape sessions around those priorities, which can help with relationship or family of origin issues.Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) breaks down patterns of thoughts and behaviors and uses practical exercises to change them. It often helps with anxiety, depression, stress, and coping skills by teaching concrete techniques that can be practiced between sessions.
Motivational interviewing helps people clarify their goals and resolve mixed feelings about change. It can be useful for clients facing major life changes, career decisions, or parenting challenges who want help deciding on next steps.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and how you want to work together to pick methods that fit. Clients and the therapist adjust the focus as needs evolve through regular check-ins.
Session logistics and formats should be confirmed before booking since the biography did not list specific session types. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week and to use brief check-ins or longer sessions depending on what helps most. Ask about which session lengths and times are offered when you complete the matching questionnaire.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
4+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English, Japanese
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationships, parenting, self-esteem, depression, grief, intimacy issues, and family-related concerns including family of origin issues.
What is her general therapy style?
She uses a client-centered approach, focusing on the person's priorities and preferences while offering practical strategies.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has four years of experience working in social services and healthcare settings with a range of ages and needs.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (CA LMFT) based in California.
In which languages can sessions be conducted?
Sessions are offered in English and Japanese.
Can people from other countries work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.