Many of the people who seek therapy with Michelle are highly capable, thoughtful individuals who appear to have things together on the outside but feel overwhelmed, emotionally reactive, or exhausted internally. Michelle works primarily with older teens and adults navigating burnout, relationship stress, trauma, mood disorders, and emotional dysregulation.
Michelle Conrad is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. She earned her master’s degree in counseling psychology from Northwestern University. Michelle has extensive experience working with personality disorders, complex trauma (CPTSD), eating disorder behaviors, suicidal thoughts, and chronic relationship challenges.
She is especially drawn to working with high-functioning clients who feel stuck in emotional or relational patterns that no longer serve them. Michelle also frequently works with other therapists and professionals.
Before opening Personal Balance Counseling in 2015, Michelle worked in several clinical settings, including inpatient psychiatric hospital care and community mental health. In these roles, she supported individuals experiencing acute mental health crises and complex clinical presentations. This experience continues to inform her work today and allows her to comfortably support clients experiencing higher levels of emotional intensity.
Michelle’s therapeutic approach draws from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), attachment theory, and person-centered therapy. She believes therapy should feel collaborative, comfortable, and honest. Michelle meets clients where they are while also gently challenging patterns that keep people stuck.
Many of the individuals Michelle works with are people others rely on. They are capable and driven, yet often feel depleted internally. Therapy focuses on building insight, emotional regulation skills, and healthier ways of navigating relationships and life stress.
Michelle founded Personal Balance Counseling in 2015. Her goal was to create a practice where clients could access high-quality, evidence-based therapy in a supportive environment. In addition to her clinical work, she oversees the clinical direction of the practice. She also works closely with the team to ensure thoughtful, ethical, and effective care for clients at Personal Balance Counseling.
Michelle strives to create a supportive, real, and sometimes humorous space where meaningful change can happen.