Dr. Michelle Burns, LPC

Dr. Michelle Burns is a Licensed Professional Counselor with two decades of experience. She practices in South Carolina and focuses on helping people who are facing relationship strain, parenting challenges, stress, anxiety, and life transitions. She aims to create a calm, nonjudgmental space where people can talk through what matters most to them.

Dr. Burns draws on practical, goal-oriented methods to help clients manage symptoms and build skills. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to spot and change unhelpful thinking patterns. She incorporates Dialectical Behavior Therapy strategies when emotional regulation and distress tolerance are needed. She also uses Solution-Focused Therapy to set clear, achievable steps forward.

Her approach is direct and collaborative. Sessions often include setting small goals, trying new coping strategies, and checking what works between meetings. She supports people dealing with grief, trauma and abuse, compassion fatigue, and concerns about self-esteem and intimacy.

Dr. Burns also helps clients facing life changes such as divorce, aging, cancer, or career shifts. She works with people who have ADHD and those managing sleep and eating concerns. Her aim is to help clients build practical tools that fit daily life.

Throughout her work she emphasizes respect and realistic progress. People who want clear steps, skills to practice, and a steady therapeutic partner may find her style helpful. If you are ready to begin, follow the listed starting steps to match with her and schedule an initial session.

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Dr. Burns commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and change thinking patterns that keep them stuck. CBT focuses on testing thoughts and practicing small behavior changes to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress.

She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance. DBT teaches practical techniques for managing strong emotions, improving relationships, and reducing reactive behavior.

Solution-Focused Therapy is another tool she uses to set short-term, achievable goals. This approach concentrates on what someone wants to build next and on steps they can try between sessions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss your needs, goals, and preferences and help decide which methods to try first. That plan can change as you learn what works for you.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the available session formats before booking since current session options are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and cut travel time so skill practice fits into daily routines.