Dr. Jessica Michaelson

About Me:

I'm super serious about psychological growth, but also can’t help bringing a sense of humor and sailor's vocabulary to our hard work. I am a mother of two vibrant kids, wife to a brilliant musician, and lover of dark, artsy films. I’m a native Californian with roots in Austin, TX.

I love being a therapist and having a therapist, and believe our ‘work’ is never done but rather evolves and deepens throughout our lives.

My Approach:

I believe therapy is most transformative when it balances a deeply supportive relationship with action-based guidance.

The foundation of any good therapy is a caring, trusting, and authentic relationship. It matters that you feel emotionally safe with me, and part of that is maintaining an open dialogue about our relationship. I always want to know what you are thinking or feeling so we can make shifts as needed.

Often my style can look more like ‘coaching’ than traditional psychotherapy, because our conversations will be active (not listen-and-nod-therapy), and identify meaningful changes internally and externally to help your life feel and look how you want it.

In terms of theoretical orientation, my work draws primarily on Internal Family Systems, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, as well as the work of Pia Mellody (codependence) and Dr. Linsday Gibson (recovery from emotionally immature parents).

My Fees:

• Individual: $225 - 50 minute session

• Couples’: $275 - 50 minute session

Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology, San Francisco, CA

• Licensed Clinical Psychologist in California and Texas

• Relational Life Therapy Certified Couples Therapist

• Gottman Method Level II Couples Therapist

• Attachment-Based EMDR trained