Michelle Bonner

Michelle Bonner is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 17 years of experience in California. She helps people cope with stress and anxiety, navigate family conflict, manage parenting challenges, and build self-esteem. Michelle speaks plainly and focuses on practical steps people can use between sessions.

She uses approaches that center the person and their experience. Sessions often include listening without judgment, noticing patterns that get in the way, and trying small behavior changes to test what works. Mindfulness practices are used to help people stay grounded and calm when emotions run high.

Michelle also draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to identify unhelpful thoughts and replace them with clearer, more helpful ones. Solution-focused conversations help set short-term goals and track progress in small, achievable steps. Trauma-focused methods guide work when past hurts continue to affect daily life.

Her work covers a wide range of family-related concerns including adoption and foster care, blended family issues, caregiver stress, and communication problems. She supports people dealing with mood disorders, post-traumatic stress, sexual assault and abuse, and challenges tied to prejudice and discrimination.

Michelle tailors each plan to the person who shows up in the room. She encourages clients to try practical tools between appointments and to adjust the plan based on what helps. To begin, people complete a short questionnaire so sessions can be scheduled according to availability.

How chosen approaches translate to online work

Michelle often combines Mindfulness Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Mindfulness Therapy focuses on simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and build calm. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes being heard and respected while conversations shape goals at the client's pace. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses small experiments to change unhelpful patterns.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. That collaborative planning helps decide which strategies to try first and how to adapt them over time.

Confirm session formats before booking so you know what options are available. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into busy days, reduce travel time, or allow a shorter check-in when schedules are tight. It can also let people practice skills at home between sessions and bring examples from everyday life into conversation. Licensed professionals help tailor the approach so sessions match your needs and routine.