We recently connected with Michelle Butcher and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Michelle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We love heartwarming stories – do you have a heartwarming story from your career to share?

It took me awhile to sift through the trials and tribulations of a 20+ year career. I have had a focus on women’s health particularly in the area of Fertility treatments, perinatal and postpartum supports for the better part of the last 15 years. For some, the journey to parenthood is not an evenly paved or straightforward pathway. I have laughed and I have cried with perspective parents through all stages of their processes. One particular experience that stands out is supporting a perspective mom through multiple retrievals, waiting for results, waiting and more waiting only to have an unsuccessful outcome. Over the course of 5 years, this was her experience time and time again- until it wasn’t. Alas- all of the heartache, anxiety, fear and waiting would come to its end. She contacted me and the retrieval worked. The waiting worked. The transfer worked and 9 long months later- spending nearly a decade fighting to be a mom. She is the mother of an incredibly beautiful, perfect little girl. Outside of her husband, I was the first to learn of the positive pregnancy tests, the first to know the gender, the first to see the ultrasound and the first message when beautiful baby girl made her way into the world. To have the honor of working with women, prospective parents, families of these individuals and sometimes with the care teams is beyond what I could have imagined as a part of my career. Grieving with my clients is somewhat the nature of the role I have as a clinician. But grieving and celebrating and then grieving again and celebrating again- multiple times over draws in a strengthening of the clinical relationship. To be included in the updates and seeing prospective parents transition to their roles as mom and dad is a staunch reminder of why I do the work that I do. These courageous men and women remind me why I love the field I chose and that I have gotten to be a peripheral witness to the commitment and determination in the journey to parenthood.

Michelle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I was a Junior in High School when I had my first true exposure to Psychology and the study of behavioral and mental health. Day 1 and I was hooked. There was a drive and interest that did not exist in other classes or other fields. I knew that day that I would pursue psychology and I have never looked back. Initially I wanted to pursue areas of study that included forensic work but shifted that perspective by my senior year in undergrad.
I took a bit of time off from pursuing my graduate degree and after 4 years, ultimately decided it was time to take next steps for my career and enroll in a Master’s Program.

In the earlier years of my post Master’s work, I worked with kids on the Autism Spectrum. I loved the work I did with clients and their families however, I started to have a desire to expand my population of focus. Over the course of the next 10+ years I found my true passion in working with Couples, those struggling with Fertility, Prenatal and Postpartum clients. I maintain a true foundational love of supporting individuals who are experiencing a challenge in their present-day lives. 5 years ago I decided to expand my clinical skill set and become a trained Divorce Mediator. For me, this was a full circle addition in my training in working with couples- in all aspects, as well as supporting women’s needs through fertility, prenatal/ postpartum and overall health.

Foundationally, my therapeutic process is based in guiding clients toward increased self-awareness and ultimately, the achievement of their desired goals. Always client-centered, I prioritize mindful guidance with articulating messages that others need to hear and with a supportive approach while supporting clients to think outside of the box. With reciprocal dialogue, motivational interviewing and transparent feedback, I continue to encourage clients to dig deep, face fears and bring about change to their thinking thus enhancing their life experiences.

In 2023 I made a huge leap of faith and decided to open my own private practice. It has been the single best career decision I have ever made. I am just as passionate now ( if not more) than I have ever been for my field as a whole. I truly love what I do, I truly, truly love being a therapist and I love having the freedom to treat my practice as a place that puts clients, not business, first. I have long stood on prioritizing client care above all else and as a solo practitioner I can do that freely and unabidingly.

One of the most profound compliments I have gotten from my clients over the years is the gratitude that I am a ” real person” and that our sessions can feel as comfortable as coffee with a friend. My intention is set in the realm of embracing simplicity and authenticity, without pretension or judgment. I hope to create a space where people feel safe to be themselves, knowing they won’t be judged or misunderstood. I encourage my clients to view our sessions as an open-door policy one that fosters trust and accessibility, inviting others to come forward and share whenever they need support. It’s all about offering a welcoming environment that values genuine connection, kindness, and acceptance.

Over the last 20+ years, there have been moments of gratitude, pride, triumph, healing, recovery etc. Having a complete and total stranger trust you with their most protected thoughts and feelings is an incredibly humbling experience. And while I take pride in that, I do not take it lightly. Last year, there was a local community contest to nominate and vote for “best of” businesses and services in a multitude of categories- my newly developed practice not only made the ballot for Best of Women’s Health- it won. After only a year in business, I couldn’t be more honored or proud of the name I have created for the practice.
This year, I have added a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner to offer medication management to the public and she too shares a love and passion for women’s health. We will have an additional Psych NP joining us in May and I will be forever grateful to not only my clients but to these two women who have put their trust in me to partner for a joint goal to provide stellar care to our clients.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

This was such a hard question to answer, so much so that I spent 3 days processing what I thought were the most honest and direct answers. After much soul searching- I realized that it is my consistency. The way I carry myself in session is the way I carry myself in life and vice versa. I am transparent with my clients that I engage with them the way I would engage with a colleague, a friend, a cashier at Target etc. I am unapologetically myself across the board. I remain fully committed to my clients and to the process of supporting them- I want my client’s to feel safe, I want them to feel open and uncensored. I offer an open version of myself, grounded, authentic and consistent.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

Always remaining open to evolving as the field evolves. Never stop learning, never be afraid to refer out, never-ever ignore personal bias.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.analaighcounseling.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Michelle-Butcher