- Client-centered care
- Practical coping skills
- Workplace wellbeing
About Michele
Michele "Shelly" Virva uses a client-centered approach as the starting point for her work. She believes each person knows their story best and brings strengths to overcome hard times. Shelly is a Licensed Master Social Worker - LMSW in Michigan with 20 years of professional experience. She focuses on practical support for stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and depression.
Her sessions aim to be collaborative and straightforward. She listens first, then helps people set realistic goals and steps they can try between meetings. Shelly combines client-centered listening with tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness to help people shift unhelpful thoughts and build steadier routines.
She also uses motivational interviewing and solution-focused techniques when people are ready to make concrete changes. Those methods are often helpful for substance use concerns, workplace issues, and motivation around health and life transitions. The tone in sessions tends to be respectful and goal-focused rather than heavily technical.
People bring a range of concerns to her work, including caregiving stress, chronic illness and pain, communication problems, and midlife transitions. She supports work-related wellbeing and helps people manage the emotional fallout of separation, grief, or parenting pressures. Conversations often include practical problem solving and coping strategies.
Shelly works in English and practices in Michigan. She encourages people to take the first step when they are ready and to think of therapy as a collaborative process. The initial steps are about identifying priorities and making a plan that fits daily life.
How therapeutic approaches adapt to online work
Client-Centered Therapy puts the person's goals at the center and focuses on respectful listening and collaboration. Online sessions using this approach still prioritize a person's voice and pacing, helping them name what matters and set achievable steps.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying thoughts and behaviors that get in the way and trying practical experiments to change them. In an online setting CBT can be used to track mood, try behavioral tasks between sessions, and review what worked or didn’t work.
Mindfulness Therapy involves learning simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and increase focus. These techniques can be taught and practiced during remote sessions and then used throughout the week to manage stress and anxiety.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and everyday realities and then recommend a mix of methods to try. That choice is made together and can be adjusted as progress is seen.
Session formats were not specified in the original biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - for example a shorter check-in during a work break, or meetings without needing to travel. They can also allow flexible pacing for people balancing caregiving, work, or health concerns.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Credentials
Michigan
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She helps people struggling with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, and coping with life changes. Additional areas include workplace issues, caregiving stress, chronic pain and communication problems.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and client-centered, with an emphasis on listening and building practical steps. She blends cognitive behavioral tools, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused strategies as needed.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years of professional work experience helping people with mood, trauma, addiction, and stress-related concerns.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is licensed in Michigan as an LMSW, which stands for Licensed Master Social Worker, and maintains practice in that state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the US work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.