Michelle Fox
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, MSW
(she / her)
In-Person & Virtual Sessions
Therapy for Teens 14+ and Adults
Are you the kind of person who can juggle approximately 47 responsibilities but can't seem to convince your brain to relax for five minutes? Maybe you're great at keeping things moving, showing up for other people, and looking like you've got it together. But underneath all that productivity, you're anxious, overwhelmed, or quietly wondering why everything feels so hard.
Maybe you've mastered the art of staying busy because the moment you slow down, your brain decides it's time to revisit every awkward interaction you've ever had. Or maybe you're in college, navigating adulthood, or trying to figure out what comes next, and you're starting to suspect that everyone else got an instruction manual you somehow missed.
If any of this sounds familiar, I think we'd get along.
I love working with teens, college students, and adults who spend a lot of time in their own heads. The overthinkers, the perfectionists, the people who worry about everything and somehow still manage to get everything done. I work with anxiety, panic, depression, and the ways stress can show up in our bodies and behaviors, including skin picking, nail biting, and hair pulling. Sometimes these patterns make sense once we understand what's happening underneath them, even if they don't feel particularly logical in the moment.
I also work with people navigating trauma, sexual assault, grief, attachment, and loss. These experiences can leave us feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or unsure how to make sense of what happened. Sometimes the impact is obvious. Other times, it shows up years later in our relationships, our sense of safety, or the way we see ourselves.
One of the approaches I offer is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a therapy that can help people process distressing experiences and reduce the emotional intensity those memories carry. EMDR can be particularly helpful when you understand intellectually that something is in the past, but it still feels very present in your body, emotions, or everyday life. You don't have to have a perfectly organized story or know exactly how to talk about what happened. We'll work together to determine what feels right for you and move at a pace that respects your needs.
-
I love working with teens, college students, and adults who spend a lot of time in their own heads. The overthinkers, the perfectionists, the people who worry about everything and somehow still manage to get everything done. I work with anxiety, panic, depression, trauma, sexual assault, grief, attachment, and loss.
-
For starters, you can be a real person here. You don't need to arrive with a neatly organized list of problems, know all the therapy terminology, or have some profound realization every week. You can ramble, laugh, cry, change your mind halfway through a sentence, or admit that you have absolutely no idea what you're feeling.
-
I'm warm, curious, a little quirky, and genuinely interested in understanding what makes people tick. I take the work seriously, but I don't think we have to take ourselves seriously every minute. Sometimes therapy involves big, meaningful conversations. Sometimes it involves laughing at the absurdity of being a human being. Usually, there's room for both.
-
I'm not interested in turning you into a completely different person. I want to help you understand yourself, feel more comfortable in your own skin, and build a life that doesn't require quite so much effort just to get through the day.
You don't have to have it all figured out. And you definitely don't have to be good at therapy to come to therapy.
-
My ideal client is someone who is ready to come exactly as they are. You don’t need to have a polished version of your story or a clear map of where you’re going; you only need the willingness to show up. I work best with individuals who are ready to commit to the process, even when it feels scary or difficult. Whether you are carrying a heavy load of anxiety, navigating a life transition, or feeling disconnected from yourself, I welcome it. In our space, all emotions are invited. I am looking for clients who are open to a partnership where we move at your pace, honoring your unique path toward reclaiming your strength.
What truly lights me up is witnessing the moment when vulnerability meets safety—that is when the magic of healing really shines. There is something incredibly sacred about the "aha" moment when a client reconnects with themselves or feels the physical release of setting down a weight they've carried for years.
Areas of Focus
Top Specialties:
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma & PTSD
Areas of Expertise:
Adolescents
Behavioral Issues
Body Image
Codependency
Coping Skills
Dual Diagnosis
Eating Disorders
Emotional Disturbance
EMDR
Family Conflict
Grief
LGBTQIA +
Life Transitions
Mindfulness
Mood Disorders
Parenting
Peer Relationships
Perfectionists
Relationship Issues
School Issues
Self Esteem
Self-Harming
Stress
Suicidal Ideation
Women's Issues
Works With
Teens 14+, Adults
Schedule
Monday Virtual (Afternoon-Evening)
Tuesday (Afternoon-Evening)
Wednesday (Afternoon-Evening)
Thursday (Afternoon-Evening)
Friday (Morning-Afternoon)
In Network With
BCBS PPO
Aetna PPO
Anthem Blue Cross PPO
Cigna/Evernorth PPO
United/Optum PPO
Education
Aurora University - Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, 2021
Aurora University - Master’s Degree in Social Work, 2023
Personal Interests
I love cuddling with my dog, working out, and cozy nights in with a good book or show. I enjoy spending time with friends and family. It's always a perk if they bring their dogs or there is a dog sighting!
Therapy with Michelle
Therapy is never a "one size fits all" experience. Because every person’s story is unique, I use an integrative approach, which means I pull from several different "toolkits" to find exactly what works for you. In our sessions, we will use a mixture of:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) & Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): To help you identify the patterns and behaviors that keep you stuck and give you practical tools to cope when emotions feel overwhelming.
EMDR: EMDR can be particularly helpful when you understand intellectually that something is in the past, but it still feels very present in your body, emotions, or everyday life.
Somatic & Mindfulness Approaches: This is about understanding what your body is telling you before your brain even catches up. By becoming more attuned to your nervous system, we can shift away from anxious thought spirals and find a sense of calm.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) & Emotions Work: We will take a compassionate look at the different "parts" of your inner self—the ones that try to protect you and the ones that hold your deepest hurts.
Solution-Focused Therapy: While we honor your past, we also use reflective exercises to focus on the present and explore what you want your future self to look like.
I combine these specific styles because true healing happens when we bridge the gap between our thoughts and our physical sensations. In essence, these approaches help us better understand the "why" behind your patterns.
We will look back at how your brain and body have worked to "protect" you over the years, which helps us approach your inner self with curiosity rather than judgment. Together, we will practice tangible tools during our time together that you can take into your daily life, ensuring you feel equipped to handle whatever comes your way. My goal is to help you gain a deeper understanding of yourself so you can build a life that feels grounded, resilient, and entirely your own.
-
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-oriented type of talk therapy that can help manage mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, and emotional concerns, such as coping with grief or stress.
-
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a type of talk therapy, specially adapted for people who experience emotions very intensely. DBT is especially effective for people who have difficulty managing and regulating their emotions.
-
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy treatment that is designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories.
-
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is an evidence-based program designed to reduce stress & enhance wellbeing through mindfulness practices, like meditation, body scans & mindful movement. to encourage present-moment awareness & acceptance.
-
Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) addresses the mental health needs of people suffering from the destructive effects of early trauma.
-
Internal Family Systems (IFS) is frequently used as an evidence-based psychotherapy, helping people heal by accessing and healing their protective and wounded inner parts.
-
Somatic interventions are therapeutic techniques that focus on the body and its relationship with the mind and emotions. They aim to promote physical and psychological well-being by addressing bodily sensations, movement, and awareness.
Schedule a Session or Consult
Interested in working together? Fill out the form, call (630) 940-6828 or email scheduling@paderatherapy.com. We also offer a 15-minute free phone consultation.
Insurance or Self Pay
Learn more about using your insurance. If we are an out-of-network provider or you do not have insurance, our rate is currently $135 for a 50-53 minute session. However, we also offer reduced rates in special circumstances. Finances should never be a deterrent for seeking help.
