Michelle Schoonmaker is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland and holds a Certificate in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C). She has been providing mental health services since 2012. Her experience ranges from acute crisis services to routine office based care. The practice has evolved as she and her clients move through life stages.

While working with a mobile crisis unit, she completed in the field assessments of acute crises for county residents in coordination with law enforcement, hospitals, schools and other organizations. She worked for a period on an inpatient psychiatric unit in multiple roles. Additionally, she provided support to young mothers through a TFC connected OMH-C as they navigated parenthood and transition out of foster care. Michelle continues to work part time in a hospital, providing assessment and referral services in the emergency department for those presenting in acute crisis.

Michelle has experience working with a diverse client population and a range of diagnoses. She has an affinity for marginalized populations working through depression, anxiety and trauma. Her work has taken her into the spaces of infertility, perinatal loss and maternal mental health (prenatal, postpartum and parenting). She takes a holistic approach towards therapy under a person-centered and interpersonal framework, drawing on feminist and trauma informed theories to empower her clients.

Michelle is passionate about her work in the office and in the community. She is involved in professional and political activism through organizations such as Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors of Maryland (LCPC-M), Maryland Counseling Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She serves in leadership positions and on committees in support of promoting justice, equity and visibility. She is also an active member of her church, Ark and Dove Presbyterian, working with the youth, equity/diversity teams and discipleship. Now an IVF mama to a double rainbow toddler, Michelle savors moments to indulge in her other passions of reading, fitness and football.

University of Baltimore (2010-2013)

Counseling Psychology, M.S.

Professional Counseling Studies Certificate

Programs focused on training professionals to provide direct therapeutic care for individuals, couples, families and groups across various settings.