We were lucky to catch up with Michelle Scharlop recently and have shared our conversation below.
Michelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you recount a time when the advice you provided to a client was really spot on? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist & Relationship Expert, my work is confidential. Therefore, I will answer this question in a general way. Couples come to see me for a variety of relationship struggles. One of the most common relationship issues I help couples with is infidelity causing relationship damage and a break in trust. When infidelity occurs, some couples split up and some couples choose to stay and work on the relationship.
As I work with the couple to rebuild trust after infidelity, I share that rebuilding trust takes time and will happen in small moments. I also share that if the couple is committed to each other and rebuilding their relationship, then it can happen. Couples don’t usually share when cheating happens in their relationship/marriage. They don’t usually share when they go to couples counseling and they repair. Most of the time you hear about the couple who one cheated and they are divorcing. It is not as common to hear about the couple that with hard work, the help of counseling and a strong commitment to each other, worked it out and made their relationship/marriage stronger. The good news is that it happens all the time. I see it happening all the time. Hearing this gives the couple hope and that is a good way to start.
Michelle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
As an experienced and skilled Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I specialize in helping couples and individuals transform their relationships. I have almost two decades of experience of counseling couples in all stages in their relationships, from dating, married, to the brink of divorce.
What sets me apart is my humor and my ability to connect with both members of the couple even when they don’t see eye to eye. Being a couple’s therapist is challenging as you are working with two people who each have their own needs, wants, thoughts, feelings. and opinions.
I am extremely proud of the work I do with clients. I care about the couples and individuals that I work with and when they use their tools and reach their goals, I applaud them and share in their happiness.
I also provide the community with free content by writing blogs that deal with relationship issues and have practical, useful tips. My social media content that is posted also has valuable relationship tips and helpful nuggets of information that will give you things to think about to help improve your relationships. I am excited that in the near future, I will be adding a YouTube channel so I can reach couples and individuals who would prefer their relationship tips to be on video.
I am passionate about transforming relationships and I feel fortunate that I have an opportunity to help couples and individuals communicate and feel connected to the most important people in their lives.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
My reputation of being a quality, experienced couple’s counselor was built on hard work including a strong social media presence. My social media presence gives anyone interested in me and my services an open window to who I am as a professional and clearly demonstrates marriage and relationships as my area of expertise. I share practical, helpful tips on social media as well as writing blogs on relationship tips that can be found on my website. My blogs are entertaining and informative thus creating a know, like and trust factor.
When I first started out, I had the mindset that other therapists were my competition. My mind set shifted years ago as I realized that other therapists were the people I should network with and build working relationships. As I did, I gained a strong network of colleagues who specialize in all different areas, a growing list of professionals who I admire and refer to and some colleagues who also became my really good friends. I am fortunate to love what I do and surround myself with professionals who have a similar work ethic and professional mindset.
Have you ever had to pivot?
A time when I had to pivot, yes! In March 2020, many people and businesses needed to pivot. I had been a therapist who loved being in an office and seeing my clients. Online counseling was not the platform that I envisioned. After seeing the benefits online therapy has for the clients and seeing its effectiveness, I was relieved and happy that I had a platform that was convenient and effective in helping couples with their relationship struggles.
Online counseling has many benefits for the client. It is convenient for clients, as there is no drive time. It is also a comfort to many because being in their own home helps them feel more relaxed.
Another benefit is that it opens up the search market for a quality therapist. As a Licensed Marriage Therapist, I am licensed in Florida. That means I can see anyone living in the state, which is a nice benefit for the clients because they do not only need to only look at their geographical area for a therapist.
I love what I do and I feel very fortunate when a couple chooses to work with me on their personal journey to a happier, healthy relationship.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://plantationrelationshipcounseling.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle.scharlop.lmft/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/PlantationRelationshipCounseling/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/plantationrelationshipcounsel/
- Youtube: Coming Soon!
- Other: Blogs: https://plantationrelationshipcounseling.com/blog/
- Marriage and Relationship Counseling: https://plantationrelationshipcounseling.com/specialties/marriage-and-relationship-counseling/