Michelle was born and raised in Portland Oregon. She grew up surrounded by musicians, artists, and gardeners with a great expanse of nature to explore. She spent a great deal of time working with horses, building computers, and reading.

While working towards her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Goddard College, she discovered the mindful somatic work of Hakomi, married to the relational and limbic work of primary attachment therapy pioneered at Mindful Experiential Approaches, the Oregon home for The Hakomi Institute International.

She went from Learning from M.E.T.A. to working for them, striving to further their mission to be an organization that was equitable and welcoming to those historically organized out of such spaces, and this important work. A goal she continues to work towards.

She blends her love of language, nature, and traditional wisdom in every aspect of her work; Experiential Therapy with Soul.