Michelle Buckner
MAMFTC, LPC
Michelle Buckner is a Licensed Professional Counselor with a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy from Reformed Theological Seminary. She has worked in a variety of settings, including a church ministry center, private practice, and a college counseling center.
Michelle approaches the therapeutic process as a privilege and is honored to meet people wherever they may be on their journey. Her hope is that people are able to find healing by making sense of their past and present life experiences. She pursues this goal by combining up-to-date research from the field of neuroscience with an internal family systems approach. The end result is for clients to self-reflect in a way that feels centered while acquiring the tools they need to move towards growth.
Michelle enjoys working with individuals of all ages, couples, and families.
Childhood to Adolescence
Coming from an attachment approach, Michelle believes that our early relationships and experiences are fundamental in shaping who we become. As kids move into the ‘tween’ years and adolescence, Michelle’s goal is to guide these individuals, as their brain grows and develops, in making sense of their big emotions. Utilizing techniques from Brainstorm, Michelle focuses on emotion regulation, active communication, and healthy relationship skills.
Early Adulthood
Michelle has experience working on a college campus and understands the complex issues individuals face during this season of life. Whether someone is heading to college, starting a job, or trying to figure out where to begin, Michelle welcomes the opportunity to walk with someone through the brave new world of ‘adulting.’ She joins with individuals in setting personal goals and helping them achieve them.
Individuals
As life rocks along, we never know what hurdles we will face. Michelle works with individuals to make sense of where they find themselves and, once ready, decide how they would like to move forward.
Couples
Michelle believes healthy marriages are the foundation for a happy home. Michelle is certified to offer the Prepare and Enrich Assessment for Premarital couples. She is also trained in John and Julie Gottman’s research-based marital therapy approach. Michelle works with couples to decrease individual reactivity around hot topics, understand their relationship patterns, and create the relationship they desire.
Families
Michelle is trained to work with family systems. She strives to guide all members to improved functioning. Michelle has experience working with nuclear, blended, and multi-generational families. Whenever Michelle has a parent or primary caregiver who is interested in learning skills to help with their children and keep them out of the therapy office, Michelle offers Filial therapy training. Filial therapy is a method of teaching parents how to be the agent of change for their children and family.
Michelle is currently training in Somatic Experiencing®. SE™ is a therapy model that focuses on healing trauma and stress-related disorders through body-based approaches. Additionally, she has interests in pursuing advanced training in the Internal Family Systems Model and gender/sexuality issues.
Michelle utilizes her approach with a variety of issues:
Anxiety
Family Conflict
Personal Growth
Complex Trauma
Depression
Marital & Premarital Counseling
Communication
Life Adjustments, Transitions, Stress
Personality Disorders
Medical Procedures/Surgeries
Motor Vehicle Accidents
High Impact Falls
Sports Injuries
Sexual Trauma
Michelle is a Jackson native who spent a season in Starkville, MS pursuing a B.S. in Psychology. While in Starkville, Michelle met her husband Caleb, and the two began a family together. When Michelle is not spending time with her husband and four kids, she enjoys home renovations or curling up with a good book and cup of coffee.
Michelle Buckner Counseling, PLLC
Michelle Buckner Counseling, PLLC is an affiliate of Watershed Counseling Associates. Michelle Buckner Counseling, PLLC is the custodian of all of Michelle Buckner’s client records, including demographic, billing, and insurance information as well progress notes. Michelle Buckner Counseling, PLLC is an independent entity that shares physical space with Watershed Counseling Associates and contracts the services of Watershed's Client Care Coordinator.