Michele "Shelly" VirvaLMSW

Michele "Shelly" Virva is a licensed social worker in Michigan with 20 years of professional experience. She centers sessions on the person's own knowledge of their life and goals. Shelly focuses on practical support for stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, and women’s concerns.

She approaches work believing people already have strengths to build on. In sessions she listens closely and helps clients name small, usable steps. That might mean learning ways to manage anxiety, making a plan to reduce substance use, or finding clearer ways to speak up at work.

Shelly uses straightforward, goal-oriented methods alongside calm, reflective listening. She draws on techniques from cognitive behavioral work and mindfulness to help people change unhelpful patterns. Motivational interviewing and solution-focused approaches guide short-term planning and moments of decision.

Clients sometimes bring complex or overlapping challenges such as chronic pain, caregiver stress, communication problems, or recovery from trauma. Shelly supports people through life transitions like divorce, midlife shifts, and pregnancy and childbirth concerns by breaking problems into manageable parts and tracking progress together.

People who choose her can expect practical tools, clear discussion, and encouragement to try new behaviors. To begin, she asks about current goals and helps set realistic next steps that fit each person’s day-to-day life.

Therapeutic approaches and how they work online

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and understanding the person's perspective. It helps people clarify what matters most and set goals that fit their life. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and offers concrete exercises to change unhelpful patterns; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and mood concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss options, try things out, and adjust plans based on the client's needs, goals, and preferences. This collaborative process helps identify which techniques feel most helpful for day-to-day life.

Confirm the current session options before booking since specific formats are not listed here. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow check-ins during work breaks or between errands. It can also support people who need shorter, focused sessions or prefer not to use video. The therapist uses her clinical approaches to shape remote sessions so practical skill-building and goal tracking continue even when meeting online.