Michelle Potter, LCPC

Children, Adolescents, Families, Adults, and Couples

Michelle Potter, LCPC, is a licensed clinical professional counselor in the St. Charles office who has been practicing in the Fox Valley area for more than 25 years. She works with children, adolescents, adults, and couples to offer support while facilitating emotional, cognitive and behavioral exploration and growth.

“We live in a fast-paced society where slowing down and looking at ourselves is considered a luxury. Eventually we burn out and cannot function in any environment. I believe that gaining insight by getting to know our vulnerabilities and learning how to manage them helps us stay centered. Once we are centered, we can learn how to focus on one task at a time. We can begin to enjoy our days rather than just moving from one task to the next without ever noticing what we have accomplished or experienced.”

Therapeutic Style

In addition to using a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness approach, Ms. Potter has advanced training in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and is a Certified Trauma Treatment Professional (CTTP). In an atmosphere of non-judgment, Ms. Potter focuses on collaboration to incorporate new insights, gain effective means of communicating with others, and new techniques to manage emotions and life stressors while creating change. Sessions may include homework assignments and coaching; when appropriate she also may introduce art therapy, play therapy, bibliotherapy, and sand tray. Ms. Potter earned her master’s degree in counseling with a specialization in art therapy from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. She’s worked in a variety of settings, including community agencies and youth detention. Ms. Potter’s pleasant, but direct style helps her connect with clients and to foster hope.

“I don’t judge the people I work with but instead, understand where they are, accept their situation and encourage their growth and change. I think it’s important to remember my thoughts are not the same as the person I am working with, so I like to ask questions and be sure I am getting it right, and I always like to make sure the person is getting what they need to feel empowered to achieve their goals.”

Ms. Potter’s Areas of Focus Include:

Anxiety; depression; trauma; self-esteem issues; autism; behavior issues; emotional issues; grief and loss; couples counseling; abuse; anger management; ADD/ADHD: LGBTQ issues; phobias; stress; bipolar disorder; HIV/AIDS; child development; cultural and ethnic issues; divorce/separation; domestic violence; learning disabilities; obsessive-compulsive disorder; parent-child interaction; postpartum depression; PTSD; self-harm; sexual addiction; sexual abuse; and social skills