Registered Psychotherapist

Michelle offers both virtual and in-person sessions near the Back in Balance clinic. 

Michelle Crawley is a Registered Psychotherapist who works with individuals aged 17 and older experiencing anxiety, depression, life transitions, PTSD, grief and loss, and a variety of relationship concerns. Her goal is to support clients in reconnecting with themselves and moving toward greater confidence, peace, and integrity.

Michelle draws from a variety of experiential and trauma-informed therapeutic approaches that extend beyond traditional talk therapy. Her work creates space to explore your strengths and shadows while supporting more meaningful and authentic relationships with yourself and others.

Therapeutic approach

Michelle’s approach is integrative, and her central therapeutic approaches include:

• Internal Family Systems (IFS)
• Brainspotting
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
• Polyvagal Theory-informed

Building on self-awareness and your inner strengths, Michelle tailors each session and therapeutic approach to your unique needs. She also welcomes you to incorporate your cultural background, values, and belief systems into the therapeutic process and your own path toward wellness. By fostering a safe and genuine connection, Michelle is honoured to walk alongside clients through periods or moments of struggle and toward greater calm, confidence, and connection.

Experience and credentials

Michelle brings two decades of professional experience in government and culturally diverse settings. She is also a mother of two teenage boys and a former NCAA Division I athlete. Her experience in competitive sport has contributed to her understanding of athletic performance, injury and trauma, allowing her to approach wellbeing through physical, psychological, emotional and relational perspectives. She is excited to bring this experience to the collaborative care offered at Back in Balance.

Michelle holds a master’s degree in counselling and spirituality from Saint Paul University. She is registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (#19408) and is a member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.

Michelle is a Phase 3-trained and certified Brainspotting practitioner. Brainspotting is a powerful neuro-experiential model (NEM) technique with wide applications to identify, process and release core sources of emotional and physical pain, trauma and dissociation.

Locations, languages and coverage

Michelle offers virtual sessions as well as in-person care near the Back in Balance clinic, in downtown Ottawa and Nepean. She provides therapy in English and French and has intermediate proficiency in Spanish.

Psychotherapy services may be covered by extended health insurance plans. Clients are encouraged to confirm coverage with their insurance provider.

“Let there be an opening into the quiet that lies beneath the chaos, where you find the peace, you did not think possible and see what shimmers within the storm.”

— John O’Donohue

Therapy Fees

**  All fees exclude HST

My Hours

Michelle offers both virtual and in-person sessions near the Back in Balance clinic. 

• Tuesday (Downtown – In Person): 12:30PM – 9:00PM
• Wednesday (Virtual): 11:00AM – 4:00PM
• Thursday (Nepean – In Person): 12:00PM – 4:00PM
• Friday (Virtual): 9:00AM – 12:00PM

How do I know if therapy is right for me?

Therapy may be right for you if you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or if it seems like something is holding you back, even if you can’t quite name what it is. You don’t need to be in crisis to seek support. Many people come to therapy to better understand themselves, navigate a life transition, process past experiences, or simply build more resilience. If you’re curious about whether therapy is right for you, that curiosity itself is a good enough reason to start.

How long does therapy take?

How long therapy takes depends entirely on the person and the goals they bring. There is no single answer, because therapy is as individual as you are. Some people find significant relief in 8-12 sessions focused on a specific issue. Others choose to engage in longer-term work to explore deeper patterns and support ongoing growth. We’ll discuss your goals at the outset and revisit them regularly so that the length and pace of our work always reflect what’s most useful for you.

What is Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy?

Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy is an evidence-based therapeutic model developed by Dr. Richard Schwartz. It is based on the idea that the mind is naturally made up of distinct “parts”—each with its own perspective, feelings, and role—all organized around a core Self. When we experience trauma, difficult emotions, or persistent patterns, it is often because certain parts have taken on roles to protect us.

IFS is non-pathologizing, meaning it treats no part of you as bad or broken. Instead, we work to help all your parts feel understood and to restore your core Self to a place of clarity, calm, compassion, courage, creativity, confidence, curiosity, and connectedness (the “8 Cs”).

Many clients find IFS to be a gentler, more self-compassionate way to do inner work compared to traditional talk therapy.

What is Brainspotting and how is it different than EMDR?

Brainspotting is a neuro-experiential therapy developed by Dr. David Grand that grew out of EMDR. It differs from EMDR primarily in how the brain is engaged during processing. Brainspotting is based on the discovery that where we look (our eye position, or “brainspot”) is connected to where we hold emotional and traumatic experiences in the brain and body. By finding and holding a brainspot while focusing on a felt sense, the brain is able to process and release stored trauma, emotional pain, and physical tension.

Like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), Brainspotting works with the nervous system to process trauma that talk therapy alone may not fully reach. The key difference is that Brainspotting is more client-led and works at a slower, deeper pace — it does not use the rapid bilateral stimulation of EMDR. Instead, it allows the brain to process at its own natural rate, often reaching deeper layers of experience. Many clients who have not fully responded to EMDR find Brainspotting effective.

Michelle is Phase-3 trained in Brainspotting and has trained under Dr. Grand and other global leaders in the field, including Mark Grixt through BSPUK.