Michaela Perez, LPC, NCC

"I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant; it is what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are."
 -Mewtwo

Michaela received her master’s in Counseling Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. During her education, she developed a passion for working with clients of multicultural backgrounds, as her lineage comes from a Hispanic background.

Michaela has worked primarily with clients having trauma backgrounds as well as mood disorders. During her internship, she worked on a crisis response team which heavily influenced her passion for trauma-focused care. 

Michaela loves to work with clients in their teenage years or older and she has experience with various cultures and diagnoses. Michaela’s approach in the therapeutic space is described as laid-back and conversational. Her goal is to create a comfortable “chat with friends” type of ambiance so that her clients feel at home.

In her spare time, Michaela can be found in a book, playing video games, or lounging with her cat–Bisque. Michaela enjoys all genres of books, ranging from new releases to the classics. When playing video games, Michaela often opts for open-world style games.

Michaela’s Thoughts on Counseling:

Michaela loves being a therapist because her favorite thing to do is listen to people talk. In her work, she enjoys getting to know peoples’ stories and discovering who they are. She believes therapy is a chance to figure out your own way of how to do things.

What Michaela Says About the Client/Counselor Relationship:

“Finding the right match makes a night and day difference.” She says if you aren’t happy with your therapist, don’t feel bad about making a change. No one will be mad at you!