Christian Counseling for Women & Teen Girls in Los Gatos.
Faith and mental health belong in the same conversation
I’m Michaela, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, and I help Christian women and teen girls find relief from anxiety, pressure, and exhaustion, with their faith as part of the process rather than something set aside. Sessions are online, so you can meet from home anywhere in California or Colorado.
Michaela Luck
Hi, I’m Michaela, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC #23926) providing online therapy for christian women in Los Gatos, San Jose, and across the Bay Area. I’m also licensed as a Professional Counselor in Colorado.
For over ten years, I’ve worked with women who are capable, caring, and quietly exhausted: the ones everyone else leans on, who rarely get a turn to be supported. My approach is warm and direct. You’ll find a space where you can slow down and be heard, along with practical tools you can use between sessions.
I draw on Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Internal Family Systems-informed work, somatic therapy, and CBT to help with anxiety, trauma, postpartum struggles, and life transitions. If your faith matters to you, I’m glad to include it in our work. If it doesn’t, that’s completely fine too.
You don’t have to have it all together to start. I offer a free 15-minute consultation so we can see if we’re a good fit.
Does this sound like you?
You’re the dependable one at church, at home, and at work, and you rarely feel allowed to struggle
You’ve been told to pray more or trust God more, and you still feel anxious, flat, or overwhelmed
You feel guilty for needing help, as if it means your faith isn’t strong enough
You’ve been hurt by a church or a faith community, or you’re questioning things you used to be sure of
Perfectionism and people-pleasing have you running on empty
You’re in a season of change, like a new baby, a move, a loss, or a relationship ending
Your teen is anxious, hard on herself, or pulling away, and you want help that respects your family’s faith
What Christian counseling looks like with me
I’m a licensed clinician, which means your care is built on professional training and evidence-informed methods. When you want it, I integrate biblical faith into our work, whether that means talking about scripture, prayer, or how your relationship with God connects to what you’re feeling. You set the pace, and I follow your lead. There’s no pressure to pray or discuss faith in any session unless it’s what you want.
[Add 2-3 sentences about your own faith and background, for example how your years of mission trips and small groups shaped the way you work. This is often the sentence that makes someone call.]
Support for Christian teen girls and their parents
Many of the teens I work with (ages 15 and up) are thoughtful, capable, and hard on themselves, and they often carry pressure from school, social media, and youth group expectations as well. I make space for her to say what she actually thinks and feels, at her pace.
For parents, I know it matters that your values are respected. I welcome your input on what your family believes, and I won’t push beliefs on your daughter or work against your family’s faith. I keep sessions private so she feels safe being honest, and I update you on progress and ways to support her at home, while involving you directly if there’s ever a safety concern. [Edit this to match your actual policies.] Read more on my [Therapy for Teen Girls page].
HOW I HELP
I draw from several evidence-informed approaches and tailor them to you:
Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART): a structured approach for processing difficult memories and stress. Many clients appreciate that it doesn't require retelling every painful detail. We can use this approach with almost any issue or topic.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)-informed work: understanding the different "parts" of you, like the inner critic or the one who's always on guard, so they stop pulling you in opposite directions.
Somatic therapy: paying attention to how stress and anxiety show up in your body, such as tension, a racing heart, or tight shoulders, and learning ways to settle your nervous system.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): spotting unhelpful thought patterns and replacing them with ones that serve you.
What to Expect
Free 15 minute consultation. We talk briefly about what's going on and whether we'd be a good fit. There's no pressure to commit.
First session. We go over your history, your goals, and what you'd like to feel different.
Ongoing sessions. Weekly at first, using the approaches above, with tools you can practice in daily life.
Telehealth: Sessions are held by secure video, so there's no commute, and you can attend from a quiet, comfortable place. I see clients located in California and Colorado.
Fees: I'm a private-pay practice and don't work with insurance in California. Fees are listed on my Fees page. I can provide a receipt you can submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Christian counseling with me combines professional clinical training with your faith. I’m a licensed counselor, so we use evidence-based therapy, and I bring faith into the work when you want it. Pastoral counseling usually comes from clergy and focuses on spiritual guidance.
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Yes, I see teen girls ages 15 and up. Sessions are private so she can be honest, and I keep parents informed about progress and how to support her at home.
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Yes. All sessions are by secure video, serving women in Los Gatos, San Jose, Campbell, Cupertino, Saratoga, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Willow Glen, and throughout California.
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If anxiety, stress, or past experiences are affecting your sleep, relationships, or mood, therapy can help. The free consultation is a low-pressure way to find out.
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For many people, yes. Research has found telehealth effective for anxiety, depression, and many other concerns, and many clients find it easier to fit into a busy schedule. I am also looking into spaces for in person therapy.
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Only if you’d like. Some clients want prayer or scripture woven in, and others prefer to talk about faith without it. You decide.
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I welcome clients from all Christian backgrounds and traditions, and I’ll respect your convictions. You lead on how faith shows up in our work.
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Absolutely. Faith integration is optional and only included if you want it.
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It varies. Some women come for a few months to work on a specific issue, and others stay longer for deeper work. We'll check in regularly on your goals.
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Not in California, I'm private pay. See my Fees page for details.
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Yes. Seeking help for anxiety, trauma, or depression doesn’t mean your faith is weak. Many people find that therapy and faith support each other, and you don’t have to choose between them.
