Michelle Zeilman

My name is Michelle Zeilman and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri and a certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist with 19 years of clinical experience and 27 years of experience in the Human Service Field. Flexible, highly individualized, client directed treatment is of utmost importance to me, fostered through an empathic, genuine, collaborative relationship. Treatment is about the client and I believe my role is to understand the client’s world through their eyes and help them navigate their human experience. I conceptualize client concerns through a systemic relational perspective and select treatment techniques based on evidence based practice and the individual needs of the client. My experience includes treating individuals and families with widely varied needs throughout the lifespan. I have worked with children ages 4 and up, families, and adults, many of those with high/severe needs, in a variety of settings including residential treatment, post psychiatric hospitalization, specialized schools, intensive in-home services, agency based outpatient work (foster care/adoption, abuse/neglect issues for adults and children, juvenile justice), and private practice. I have served clients from a range of ages, backgrounds, socio-economic statuses, experiences and diagnoses. In general practice, I provide services for: depression, anxiety and other mood disorders; adjustment disorder issues; ADHD/executive functioning issues; difficulties with both individual and family life transitions and development; stress; and trauma. My areas of specific specialty are: child/adolescent therapy; family and relationship therapy; parenting support; difficulties with socialization/navigating social relationships or social structures; relationship issues across a variety of contexts; difficulties in larger system interactions; special populations/disabilities; and Autism. My experience also includes working as an adjunct instructor in a university counseling program for 11 years training therapists in coursework including ethics, clinical practicums, family therapy, and special populations. I hold an M.Ed. in Counseling from the University of Missouri Saint Louis have obtained Ph.D. level education up to dissertation (ABD). I obtained my BS in Psychology from George Mason University. I hold a certification as an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist. I was a National Certified Counselor as credentialed by the National Board of Certified Counselors from 2005-2017 and remain eligible for certification.