Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle F. Moseley.
Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Today I own a private practice as a licensed mental health counselor and work with folks all over NC, but the path to get here was definitely not a straight line. I graduated from undergrad at Wake Forest University in 2002 and went through the process of interviewing for graduate school to pursue counseling. I was accepted to a few programs, but the trajectory of my life took me in a different direction at the time and I spent almost a decade working for an international Christian ministry. This was what is known as a parachurch organization, so not affiliated with any particular church, and I worked with college students. The beliefs of this group, at least in NC, were conservative and the focus was on evangelism. During my time with the organization, the team that I was part of experienced a lot of changes and there was eventually no place for me as a single, 30-something woman within the context of that organization. My last few years with the organization were quite difficult and took a toll on my mental health.
I transitioned away from ministry work in 2013. I was struggling to figure out my next steps, while also dealing with the impacts of what I now know was spiritual abuse within that ministry setting. I spent time finding support with my own therapist, and gaining understanding of trauma and the ways that what I experienced was impacting my brain, body, and relationships. I had experienced a breast cancer scare in the midst of my ministry role coming to an end, and dealt with several other health issues in the year following my exit from ministry. The complex trauma I had experienced was truly taking a toll on my life!
In the fall of 2014, I entered graduate school at UNC-Greensboro for Clinical Mental Health Counseling. My experience in the program included both personal growth and a top-notch educational experience. Through classes, internships, and collaborating with other students in the program, I was able to find a healthier and more boundaried way to support others as a professional counselor.
I spent a year as an intern in the counseling center at Guilford College, working with the young adult college students and learning from the other licensed mental health professionals there. I then spent a few years working in a community mental health agency in both Forsyth County and Chatham County, NC. This experience allowed me to work with a wide variety of folks – various ages, backgrounds, concerns, and needs. I began working in a group practice setting in 2019, and just as I was getting the hang of that setting the Covid-19 shutdowns came along. Everyone’s mental health was impacted by the many unknowns related to the pandemic and the pivot to virtual therapy came swiftly.
I had never imagined providing therapy virtually through telehealth, and those first months were bumpy at times. I continued to work within the group practice, yet all my work was happening from my home office. I was also beginning to realize that I wanted to more intentionally focus on supporting folks who had experienced harm or abuse within spiritual/religious settings. My passion for helping those who had been harmed to understand what had occurred, to be able to tell their story, and to find a way forward was growing.
So, in 2022, I took the leap to a fully virtual solo private practice.
I specialize in supporting survivors of spiritual/religious harm through both individual and group therapy options. I also do a good bit of work with folks who are dealing with body image concerns or feeling disconnected from their body. These areas frequently overlap for folks. Recently, I have also been focusing more on offering neurodivergent-affirming services. This has grown out of my own journey of being late-identified neurodivergent, as well as a growing number of clients who have been walking their own path of exploring neurodivergent identities. In addition to ongoing therapy, I offer Neuro-Affirming ADHD/Autism Assessments for adults in NC, as well as continuing education trainings for mental health professionals.
It’s been a bit of a winding and unexpected road to get here, but I’m passionate about my work and learning to embrace the ways my own painful expereince has led me here.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As I mentioned, it’s been a winding road to get to this point. There have been a few struggles that stick out as I reflect back on the journey.
The spiritual abuse that I experienced during the last 3-ish years that I worked in ministry played a big role in what I do now, and was also a significant time of struggle for me. Dealing with the impacts of complex trauma, including several health-related issues, while also reevaluating central parts of my life was a difficult and lonely experience.
Another difficult experience was being initially waitlisted for the graduate program at UNC-Greensboro. The interview for the program had fallen in the midst of a health-related crisis. In fact, I had to postpone surgery in order to attend the interview, and was unable to eat for the 2 days leading up to the interview due to fear of irritating the issue and making emergency surgery necessary. When the initial letter came with the waitlist decision, I was devastated. I’m so grateful that things shifted, a spot opened up, and I was able to pursue that program at that time.
Finally, the struggle of being a mental health counselor in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and related shutdowns was a struggle. There is no training for living in a pandemic alongside the clients you are trying to support! There was the initial lull in folks seeking therapy as we waited out “the 2 weeks”, and then there was the surge of people seeking out mental health support. I was navigating the transition to a fully virtual practice while being part of a group practice that was designed for in-office services. The one thing that made this struggle bearable was having a supportive life partner along for the ride.
We’ve been impressed with Michelle F. Moseley Counseling, PLLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Michelle F. Moseley Counseling, PLLC is a fully virtual mental health private practice that provides therapy services in NC and educational trainings worldwide. The owner and sole provider within the practice is me, Michelle F. Moseley, MS, LCMHC, NCC, BC-TMH, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in NC. I specialize in supporting folks who often feel like they’re “too much”, yet may simultaneously struggle with the idea that they are not enough. Those I work with in therapy include survivors or religious harm, folks struggling with body image, and late-identified neurodivergent individuals.
I provide both individual and group therapy, as well as facilitate educational workshops in various settings. My lived experience with spiritual abuse and religious trauma, as well as my own journey to being late-identified neurodivergent, are integral in supporting others in their own journey.
The values of my practice include being trauma-sensitive, LGBTQ+-affirming, neurodivergent-friendly, and anti-racist. I believe that ALL people deserve respect, compassion, and access to mental healthcare.
How do you think about luck?
I suppose some would say that the abrupt end to my ministry career or the experience of the Covid-19 pandemic were bad luck. Both of these things were difficult and altered my life. Yet, if neither of them had occurred I don’t think I would be where I am now and able to support folks in the ways that my work currently allows.
Pricing:
- Pricing information varies depending on the service. All pricing information can be found on my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://michellefmoseley.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapy_with_michelle/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleFMoseleyCounseling/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-f-moseley/
