Michelle Manning, LPC, NCC

Who I Work With

I specialize in helping adults and couples who appear high-functioning on the outside—career-driven, dependable, constantly striving—but feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck underneath it all. Often they’re the person everyone else depends on.

Many of my clients come from families marked by:

• Addiction or emotionally unavailable caregivers

• Highly critical or perfectionistic parenting

• Abuse or covert narcissism

You may be:

• Struggling with low self-worth, burnout, or shame

• Repeating relationship patterns you don’t understand

• Constantly battling anxiety, panic, or obsessive thoughts

• A highly sensitive person (HSP) who feels easily overwhelmed

• Wondering why you're doing all the “right” things—but still feel something is missing

How I Work

My approach is integrative, drawing from several evidence-based models depending on your goals and the patterns we uncover together.

• Schema Therapy(to uncover deep relational patterns and unmet needs)

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) (to align actions with values and bring relief)

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)(for coping skills and behavior change)

• IFS-Informed Work(to help you connect with different “parts” of yourself with compassion)

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) (to help break cycles of intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors in OCD)

• The Gottman Method for couples therapy (to improve communication and rebuild connection)

We explore how your past has shaped your present—so you can break old patterns, build new ones, and live with clarity, calm, and connection.

While I’m warm, empathetic, and fully present with you, I’m not a therapist who just nods and listens.

My clients often come to me after working with other therapists where they felt supported—but stuck.

I ask hard questions, offer honest reflections, and help you take action. I’ll hold you accountable with homework, assignments, and structure tailored to your goals—because real change requires more than insight.

Therapy with me is both a safe space and a growth space.

Clients often say that after working with me, they feel more hopeful, more grounded, and more in control. They’ve gone from living in survival mode to feeling genuinely excited about life again.

Why I Do This Work

I'm a therapist, yes—but also a mom of four, an entrepreneur, a home renovator, and a lifelong brain science geek. My path to this work is rooted in both lived experience and formal training.

I hold a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Colorado Christian University and am also a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board for Certified Counselors, a credential awarded to counselors who meet rigorous national standards for education, training, and ethical practice.

I continue to train in evidence-based approaches including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) for OCD, Schema Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

I believe healing isn’t just about getting by—it’s about growing into the version of yourself you always knew was possible.

What the First Session Is Like

Starting therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you’ve never done it before. In our first session, we’ll talk about what’s been weighing on you and what you’d like to change.

You don’t need to have everything figured out or know exactly where to begin—my role is to help guide the conversation so we can understand what’s going on and what would actually help.

By the end of that first meeting, most people leave with a clearer sense of the patterns affecting them and a concrete idea of how therapy can move them forward.

📞 Ready to Begin?

I offer private-pay therapy in Parker, Colorado, with select in-person appointments available in Greenwood Village. I work with clients from Parker, Greenwood Village, Cherry Creek, DTC, and across the South Denver metro area. Telehealth is available throughout Colorado.

Let’s explore what’s holding you back—and begin building the future you deserve.

👉 Click here to request a consultation or start therapy

(You’ll be able to choose whether you'd like a brief consultation call or to begin with a full intake session, and list your availability.)

Please note: I do not bill insurance, and all sessions are self-pay.