Michelle Kipp, MA, LMHC

Hi - my name is Michelle Kipp and I am the owner of Serenity Counseling. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and have been practicing therapy in a variety of settings for years. I graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2011 with a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and hold a Certificate in Play Therapy. I opened a private practice in Orlando in 2012 and operated it for over five years in the heart of Baldwin Park in Orlando, Florida.

Finding the right therapist can seem like an overwhelming process. There are so many to choose from, and in an already daunting process of reaching out for help. It can be incredibly hard to reach out for help or seek therapy, especially for the first time. Some say it is the most difficult step. So welcome! You are your greatest investment, and I want to help you become the best you possible.

I work with many different presenting concerns and populations. Learn about the different issues and topics we address here. Additionally, clients and their therapist need to be a great ‘fit’. The therapeutic relationship is absolutely key to making progress in your life and toward your goals. I offer a free 15 minute consultation for clients to ensure this. Call me to see about our ‘fit’ and whether I can assist you to becoming a healthier, happier, and more serene you.

Clinical Experience and Background

Born and raised in Georgia, I attended The University of West Georgia for my undergraduate degree. I received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Criminology. While there, I was accepted and participated in an exclusive ‘Learning Community’, which aimed to cultivate future therapists by self-exploration and experience. Additionally, I was a group leader as well as a couples group leader at Pathways Center for Developmental Growth for internship experience.

I decided that after graduating, I was certainly on the right career path. However, I was not in the right state - Georgia was still too cold! So I applied and was accepted into The University of Central Florida for Marriage and Family Therapy. While in the program, I gained much experience in several different ways: I was encouraged in this CACREP-accredited program to seek counseling as an individual. It was stressed that in order to become a better clinician, it was vital to do self-exploration and see ‘through the clients lens’. To be the one on the couch, so to speak. And it has only helped and further improved my skill set and well-rounded experience in this mutual relationship between client and therapist. I learned first-hand that growth is a never-ending process, and to always check in on any ‘stuff’ so that it never affects work with clients, and that it assists me in better helping them by being able to step in their shoes.

While in graduate school, I was a member of many notable organizations, including: The American Counseling Association, was social chairwoman of Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society in Counseling, Phi Lambda Theta International Honor Society in Counseling, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, and the National Women’s Profession. I completed many workshops in order to expand interests, including: Artists workshops, yoga workshops, solution-focused workshops, couples workshops, art therapy workshops, animal-assisted therapy workshops, GLBT population focusing, psychodrama workshops, and more. I attended many conferences to further my knowledge regarding counseling, and often presented topics of interest or co-authored presentations.

I gained additional experience through being a group leader as well as co-facilitator at Timber Creek High School for seniors. UCF has a program for practicum wherein students gain first hand counseling experience by providing supervised therapy services to the community. After completing those, I completed my internship for Aspire Health Partners, formerly The Center for Drug-Free Living. I provided therapy and group services to those struggling with drug-addiction, HIV positive diagnosis, homelessness, and co-morbid individuals. I graduated in 2011 with a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Certificate in Play Therapy.

My internship highlighted populations I still hold close to my heart, and after graduating I focused on volunteering as a therapist at The Center Orlando, which provides so many resources for the LGBTQ+ community for Central Florida. I volunteered here for close to four years providing therapy, advocacy, treatment plans and support. While there, I opened my first business in Baldwin Park for counseling. Serenity Counseling opened its’ doors in the beautiful Baldwin Park in January of 2011 and provided therapy to couples and individuals for 7 years. It was during this time that I completed the supervision period of newly graduated therapists as interns. I gained much experience here, and really had a chance to grow my specialties. I offered individual as well as couples therapy for people struggling with addictions, GLBT-related issues, anxiety, depression, career issues, peer concerns, familial problems, adolescents, trauma and abuse victims, and more. I decided to pursue training and then employ Neurofeedback training to supplement traditional talk therapy I offered. I volunteered at many conferences and presented as well, to further educate myself within the counseling profession.

While enjoying being a therapist for my business, I partnered with a research company in order to refer those struggling with mental health to no-cost medications. I was offered a job in research to become a clinical research coordinator, otherwise known as project manager for unreleased medical product via studies and medical trials. I was able to first-hand witness medication change lives for those that had otherwise found no relief; I managed projects for mental health as well as for medical ailments. I worked on depression, anxiety, ADHD studies, migraines, diabetes, drug addiction, eating disorders, and more. I did this while also providing therapy in the evenings. I later took a job in project management for those struggling with Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia. It was at this point that I decided to focus on raising a family and to take a break from work endeavors.

Several years later I realized it was time to shift again, focusing on why I became a therapist. It was a void in my life, and realizing that providing therapy again would be the solution, I decided to open the practice once again, this time branding it Serenity Counseling LMHC.

Why I Became a Therapist

I was one of those people that did know what they wanted to be ‘when I grew up.’ A helper. Someone to assist others in healing through hurt. I wanted to be an ear for those struggling. Empathy was a strong suit and I knew I wanted to channel it by becoming a helper. The greatest investment a person could make is to invest within themselves, and become the best possible version of this. To achieve positive change by vulnerability, self-reflection, hard work and motivation. I knew that I wanted to be front row to witnessing this craft of cultivating this positive change together. I wanted to support others in helping them navigate their own personal values, goals, and desires so that they could become more congruent with the qualities they wish to possess.

Please let me join you on your journey, it would be an honor.

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License Number: MH13159