Michele Topel, M.Ed., LPC, LCPC
(she/her)
About Me
I am an integrative EMDR therapist and Approved Consultant, as well as a researcher and co-developer of the novel Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ protocol. I am also co-founder of a training institute where I teach clinicians how to integrate advanced therapeutic approaches, including memory reconsolidation techniques, into their practice. My approach combines evidence-based methods like EMDR with Internal Family Systems (IFS) theory, somatic experiencing, and mindfulness-based practices. These strategies are grounded in cutting-edge research on trauma, neurobiology, and the brain’s capacity for healing, as well as my experience as a long-term mindfulness meditation practitioner and teacher. These integrative, neuroscience-informed approaches offer transformational healing for complex trauma, dissociation, depression, anxiety, and addictive or compulsive behaviors. My typical client has often experienced traditional talk therapy with limited results and is ready for a therapy approach that creates profound and lasting change.
Education & Experience
Mental health counseling is my second career, following 20 years as a business professional and real estate entrepreneur. Before transitioning to private practice as a trauma therapist, I facilitated group sessions in intensive outpatient addiction recovery clinics and provided trauma-informed behavioral health services at Whitman-Walker Health, a community health center originally established to serve the LGBTQ community in Washington, DC. My clinical approach is deeply influenced by my long-standing practice and teaching of insight meditation. My training includes work with renowned teachers such as Tara Brach, Jack Kornfield, and Sharon Salzberg, as well as a year-long sabbatical in 2019, studying and practicing with monastics in Thailand. This immersive experience, along with my training in both the U.S. and Asia, has profoundly shaped my therapeutic perspective.
Professional & Volunteer Affiliations
Certified Mindfulness Meditation Teacher, Certified Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist Co-Founder, Ketamine-Assisted EMDR Therapy™ Institute
Specialty Area
- Abuse/Neglect
- Addictions
- Alcohol/Substance Abuse
- Dissociative Disorders
- Grief/Loss/Mourning
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Sexual Abuse
- Spirituality
- Stress Management
- Traumatic Incident
Population Served
- Adults
- First Responders
- LGBTQ+
- Seniors
Language
- English
Insurance
- Does Not Accept Insurance