Michelle Park, M.A., M.S.Ed.

Michelle Park, M.A., M.S.Ed.

Licensed Counselor

This therapist has over 6 years of experience. 

Adolescents, Adults
English, Korean, Bilingual

Michelle was born in Seoul but has spent about an equal amount of time living in the U.S. and South Korea throughout her youth and adulthood. She studied and worked in California, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

Biography

Michelle identifies herself as an educator and therapist for having worked in the field of Education as well as Mental Health Services. Before pursuing her career as a clinical therapist, she taught and worked in different capacities with middle school, high school, and university students in the U.S. During her transition from Education to Mental Health Service, she provided seminars and workshops to students, parents, and the Asian American community to raise the importance of seeking mental health support.

Before joining Seoul Counseling Center, Michelle provided individual counseling services in English to international students at Yonsei University and Seoul National University. She has provided therapy to clients from over 20 countries along with diverse ethnic, cultural, social, and religious backgrounds. Michelle has a broad range of experience working with including but not limited to bi/multicultural individuals; multicultural families; third cultural individuals; expat families; Korean returnees; local Korean nationals; foreign nationals working in Korea; and churches as well as international schools.

Her specialties as a clinical therapist include:
Anxiety; Depression; Trauma/ PTSD; Grief Counseling (including Pet Loss); Life Transitions/Adjustment Stress; Identity; Intercultural Issues; Social Skills/Interpersonal Relationships/Self-Esteem; Career Counseling; and Parent Education/Parenting Stress.

Therapy Approach

As I understand that clients often come into therapy sessions when they feel most vulnerable, I try to provide a warm and safe space to build and practice trust together. With an emphasis on Person-Centered Therapy, I respect my client’s lived experience, support autonomy, and work collaboratively with my clients to move toward personal empowerment. I take an integrative approach by utilizing Multicultural Counseling and Therapy to understand how individuals can be exposed to and impacted by different life stressors such as race, gender, socio-economic background, religion, culture, and social norms. Because larger social contexts can affect our level of distress, I work with my clients to navigate and identify stressors to help them channel their emotions more effectively rather than holding back with increasing self-doubt and self-blame. By paying acute attention throughout therapy, I strive to meet my clients at their strengths and skills with an overall goal of supporting them to experience increased self-awareness, self-agency, and self-empowerment. To do so, I weave in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) to invite my clients to recognize and regulate their behavioral patterns more effectively.

Availability

Seoul
Pyeongtaek
Online

Speciality

  • Adjustment Stress
  • Anxiety / Panic Attacks
  • Career Counseling
  • Depression
  • Family Conflict
  • Parenting Stress
  • Self Esteem
  • Social Skills & Peer Relationships
  • Trauma / PTSD

Location

  • Seoul (Sinsa)
  • Online

Fun Facts

I enjoy spotting cumulous clouds in the blue sky and taking photos of plants and flowers every season. During my free time, I love walking my dog and biking along the river. I’m conscious about what I eat but can’t live without chocolate and coffee!

Education

  • MA: Boston College (2018, Counseling Psychology)
  • MS.Ed.: University of Pennsylvania (2010, Intercultural Communication)
  • BA: University of California, San Diego (2008, Major in Linguistics with a Minor in Chinese Studies)

Certifications

  • Clinical Psychologist Level 2 #23202073683C (임상심리사 2급)

Licensed Psychologist, Certified Counselor
Kenya & Ethiopia Certified Psychologist
U.S. Licensed Counselor
U.S. Licensed Mental Health Counselor; National Certified Counselor
Certified Counselor
Licensed Psychologist
Certified Counselor
U.S. Licensed Master Social Worker
U.S. Licensed Psychologist
Certified Counselor

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