Therapy | Novato Residents with Michelle Baumgartner, LCSW

In person therapy in San Rafael. Online therapy for Novato and all of Marin County

Even though living in beautiful, small-town, and family-friendly Novato has many advantages, many people in Novato, whether they are middle-aged or older, reach a point where daily life feels stressful or overwhelming. You may notice yourself feeling anxious, depressed, reactive in relationships, shut down, or struggling with carrying everything on your own. You may be dealing with grief or loss, cancer or a health concern, past traumas, or the challenges that come with an important life transition, including midlife changes. It makes sense that you are looking for support that helps you feel grounded, present, and more like yourself.

My name is Michelle Baumgartner. I am a psychotherapist in San Rafael with more than 35 years of experience helping adults cope better, find a calmness in their bodies, understand the mind-body connection, trust their innate wisdom, and move toward a greater sense of well-being.

If you live in Novato and want an experiential, relational, trauma-informed, mind-body therapy, you are welcome to work with me in person or online.

Why Many Novato Residents Choose Therapy in San Rafael

Even though Novato has a caring community of providers, many adults choose to travel to San Rafael for therapy. These are the most common reasons clients share.

More privacy and space to open up

Novato is a close connected community. Many adults prefer to seek therapy in a nearby city where they have more privacy and less chance of running into people they know.

Specialized in relational, experiential, trauma-informed, mind-body therapy

My practice focuses on somatic therapy, nervous system regulation, trauma therapy to support those experiencing grief/loss, cancer and other health-related concerns, or an important life transition. It is experiential and relational. People often travel for this type of work.

San Rafael is a short and easy drive

Most parts of Novato are only fifteen to twenty minutes away without traffic. For many people the drive feels simple, calming, and part of the process of preparing for therapy.

A neutral space can feel grounding

Some people find it easier to open up when they are not right in the middle of their everyday environment. San Rafael gives you a sense of neutral ground where you can step out of your routine and focus on yourself.

A deeper, mind-body approach than what is often available

With decades of experience, I offer a warm, intuitive, and experiential style of therapy that blends mindfulness, body-based awareness, inner exploration, emotional regulation, and connection to your innate wisdom. People in Novato often seek this when they cannot find the approach they want locally.

Flexible options with both in person and online therapy

You can choose-to be seen in-person or online.

Extensive Training

I have more than 35 years of experience in health care and mental health. My background includes many years as a licensed occupational therapist, which gave me a strong foundation in neuroscience, development, functional recovery, and supporting coping and adaptation.

Over the decades, I have worked with adults facing anxiety, depression, grief/loss, trauma, medical challenges, and major life transitions. I have supported people through the loss of a loved one, cancer treatment, PTSD and complex trauma, relationship stress, and major changes in identity, career, and family life.

This long history of clinical work allows me to understand the nervous system, the emotional impact of illness, stress, and loss, and the practical skills people need to heal and move forward. It also helps me meet you with compassion, clarity, and a calm presence so you can feel supported through whatever you are facing.

I continue to deepen my knowledge through ongoing training in somatic therapy, trauma healing, parts work, and relational work, and contemplative and transformational practices.

What Therapy With Me Can Help You With

• Anxiety and Stress

• Past trauma and PTSD

• Difficulty regulating emotions

• Grief and loss

• Cancer related distress

• Depression and negative self-talk

• Relationship stress

• Midlife changes and questions about direction

• Life Transitions, including the Menopause Transition

Therapy can help you feel calmer, more connected to yourself, and more able to respond to life with clarity and confidence, instead of reactivity or overwhelm.

My Approach to Therapy

I work with a warm, intuitive, interactive style. Sessions focus on your body, emotions, thoughts, and parts of yourself that respond to past and present situations. You will learn to observe your inner experience with curiosity and compassion, instead of judgment. Together, we explore what is happening inside you and what is ready to shift.

I use mindfulness, somatic awareness, and mind-body tools approaches to help you reconnect with yourself, regulate your nervous system, and heal from difficult experiences. Therapy moves at your pace and honors your needs, history, and personal strengths.

About Novato and the Opportunity for Support Nearby

Novato is a beautiful and calm part of Marin County with a strong sense of community. It is home to Old Town Novato, Stafford Lake Park, and the surrounding hills and trails that so many people love. Still, even with the beauty around you, life can feel hard at times. You may feel alone with your stress or unsure how to create the change you want.

San Rafael is the center of Marin and just a short drive away. Many Novato residents come here for more choices in mental health care, including trauma therapy and somatic approaches.

If you want support that goes deeper than talk therapy, you are in the right place.

Online Therapy for Novato and All of Marin County

If driving is difficult or inconvenient, online therapy is available for all adults in Novato. Many clients appreciate the comfort and convenience that virtual sessions provide. It offers the same depth of work, the same connection, and the same focus on healing.

You can choose in person or online.

Begin Therapy as a Novato Resident

If you are ready to feel more present, more grounded, and more connected to yourself, I am here to help.

Schedule a free twenty-minute phone consultation to see if this feels like a good fit. I will answer your questions and help you understand what our work together can look like.

Schedule your free twenty-minute consultation here.

Therapy in person in San Rafael. Online therapy for Novato and all of California.