Meet Addiction Recovery Therapist, Michelle Robin Gould, LMHC, NCC, BC-TMH, Florida Therapist
I specialize in high-level support for adults recovering from addiction, trauma, and anxiety.
You’re looking for a therapist who’s got years of training and experience as a substance use therapist with a concierge-level approach to personalizing therapy so you feel like the special person that I believe you are. I can give you all that. But the asset that makes me the right therapist for you is that in addition to being a skilled therapist, I am also a person in long term recovery.
Like many of my clients, I understand resistance to change, because I’ve experienced it first-hand. I know what it’s like to think you’re not in denial about anything and find out exactly what’s holding you back from the life you wish you had. My clients want tools that will help them take that leap from beign stuck in old patterns that haven’t worked to feeling good about trying new ways. I know how to present those tools with conviction and compassion. I’m told I put a lot of heart into my work, and that it comes across in my sessions.
Choosing a therapist is an emotional decision. You want to feel comfortable with the person you’re talking to in your most vulnerable moments. Clients describe me as someone who speaks the words they need to hear in gentle ways. I describe myself as someone who doesn’t hesitate to call you out when you’re self-sabotaging, but does so with empathy and tact.
I have the knowledge and experience to help you navigate the recovery world. Have you found it challenging to figure out which recovery program works best for you? I’m not the kind of therapist who just tells you what to do. I’ll explain the different types of recovery communities there are and how to try out your options. We’ll talk about which tools and programs might work for you in particular, and I’ll be there to answer your questions when you start building your support system.
My Job
Challenge you
Support you
Help you figure out what serves you and what doesn’t
We have a saying in recovery: My best thinking is what got me here. The moment you entertain the possibility that there’s another way to do things, that’s a huge turning point in your recovery. That’s where your transformation begins.
Finding A Therapist
Am I the right therapist for you? We are a good fit if:
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You think you might have a problem with alcohol, prescriptions, or other drugs.
Or maybe you've been in recovery from addiction for a while, but it seems like the only thing that's changed is that you're not using. That’s not enough anymore. You want to feel better about yourself. You want a therapist who knows how to take your recovery to the next level.
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You set goals but you don't follow through, and this bothers you.
You believe in spending time on personal growth and self-improvement, but you want to balance challenging yourself with self-compassion. It feels like you’ve forgotten who you are and why you should get up in the morning. You’re hoping therapy will give you the push you need to move forward.
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You are inundated with intrusive thoughts and you want to shut them the hell up.
You live with stress and anxiety every single day, and you want to learn how to manage them better. You've read a lot about coping skills, but you’ve tried to work them into your life and you haven’t been successful. You want a therapist who can help you find confidence, self-efficacy, and peace-of-mind.
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You need a low-risk place to practice being a person.
You need a safe place to practice your interpersonal skills, critical thinking skills, and recovery skills so you can connect what you learn in therapy with how to use it in the real world. You want a therapist who will role play with you and get you to the point where therapy is a choice and not a necessity.
Our Focus in Therapy
We are going to shift the focus from what is wrong with you to what is right. That doesn’t mean we are going to ignore the problems or deny the thoughts and behaviors that get you into trouble. It means we are not going to obsess about them. We are going to focus on solutions.
You want things to change, but you’re not sure where to start.
Change is about choice and action.
I’m going to help you sort through what to keep and what to change.
Choice is your superpower.
We are a team. Let’s do this thing.
Are you a detail person?
Here’s the nitty gritty on my training, education, and credentials.
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Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), State of Florida. See my license
National Certified Counselor (NCC), National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc.
Board-Certified TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH), Center for Credentialing & Education
TeleMental Health Training Certificate (THTC) from Telehealth Certification Institute
Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), Evergreen Certifications
Certification in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (C-DBT), Evergreen Certifications
SFBT Diamond Level 1 Certification, The Solution Focused Universe
Working with Trauma: Digital Credential, Mental Health Academy
Ongoing Education
I maintain my license and certifications with continuing education throughout the year. Feel free to look at the log of professional counseling workshops I have attended recently.
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Doctoral Candidate, Instructional Design and Technology, Nova Southeastern University. Expected graduation: May 2025.
2017 MA, Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Media, Nova Southeastern University
2012 MS, Mental Health Counseling, Nova Southeastern University
1993 BA, Social Psychology, Florida Atlantic University
1993 Women's Studies Certificate, Florida Atlantic University
1991 AA, Psychology, Palm Beach Junior College
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Doctoral Candidate, Instructional Design and Technology, Nova Southeastern University. Expected graduation: 2024.
IDOL courses Academy® Level 2: Instructional Designer, IDOL courses Academy. 2021
Storyline® for IDOLs®: Articulate Storyline® Skilled, IDOL courses Academy. 2021
IDOL courses Academy®: Learning Designer Credential, IDOL courses Academy. 2022
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I graduated with my mental health counseling degree in 2012. Back when I was in school, I was required to complete a year-long practicum at a treatment site. This practicum is analogous to a doctor going through a residency. As a counselor-to-be, I was placed at a substance use treatment facility where it was my privilege to witness the spirit and courage of people fighting addiction, stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma. There is a flow to recovery - a process that is noble and humbling and beautiful to watch. I chose to specialize in addiction recovery, stress & anxiety, and personal growth in my private practice because I wanted to look forward to going to work every day. I get to watch the most incredible transformations happen for people through this work, and it is easy to be passionate about my job.
Aside from the counseling profession, my favorite jobs were:
Over 20 years as a licensed nail technician because I got to talk to people all day and make them feel special and cared for
Two years as a trade school educator because I got to empower adults seeking new or second careers
Working as a PBX switchboard operator and receptionist because I got to help people make connections
Recovery is possible.
Step outside your comfort zone and build a life you treasure.
Are you ready? Reach out now.
