Essential Strides Counseling, PLLC
Michelle M. Johnson, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist

I began my studies in psychology at Tufts University in Medford, MA.  I then worked in psychiatric research at Massachusetts General Hospital for two years before returning for my masters and doctoral degrees at Harvard University.  While in school I worked with adults and children of all ages, with a wide variety of struggles including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder.  I then completed a year-long clinical internship at Brown University at the end of my doctoral degree program.  Finally, I completed a post doctoral fellowship at McLean Hospital in Belmont, MA in borderline personality disorder working with adolescents and adults.  Upon moving to the greater Seattle area, I began specializing in work with eating disorders and was the program director of a 24-hour residential treatment facility for adult women with eating disorders for two and a half years.

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I opened my private practice in Bellevue, WA in 2016 and have thoroughly enjoyed working with adults and adolescents with many different types of things they are working on.

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​On a personal level, I have always loved all animals, but especially horses, though I never had the opportunity to ride before becoming an adult.  I now ride regularly and have fallen in love with the sport and all it has to teach me.  Outside of horseback-riding, I love being outdoors more generally, doing things such as running, backpacking, camping, and hiking.  I also love taking my dog Sasha on these adventures.  Finally, I have always been a recreational musician, and I played the flute and sang all throughout my childhood.  During the pandemic, I revisited these passions and continue to play and sing as much as possible.