Today we’d like to introduce you to Christie Michaud.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve typically shied away from the spot light, preferring to listen, reflect, and encourage others. My internalizing and perfectionistic tendencies led me down a path of shame and depression. For a long time, I kept this to myself and suffered alone, but little by little, God opened my eyes and led me down a new path of restoration. In 2012, on a medical mission trip to Togo, West Africa, I came face-to-face with a woman so diffferent from me, yet, similarly suffering. I felt called to “tell her I dealt with similar things” and the relief and understanding I saw in her eyes are forever imprinted in my memory. I began sharing with her what God had been teaching me and passion started pouring out of me. On the plane ride home I felt called to “go home and do this” and that I was to “become a Christian Counselor”.
This moment started a journey that led to women’s ministry leading, teaching, and creating content (via studies and blog) as I waited for the timing to go back to school for my masters degree. In 2017, feeling called to “make this message available outside of my home church doors”, I self-published my ministry content into a book called “The Believer’s Battle Strategy.” This content combined my story, what God was teaching me, and my passion for psychological techniques to utilize and aide growth and healing. In 2019, I went back to school for a Clinical Mental Health Counseling masters degree and graduated in 2022. My licensing was temporarily delayed due to a momentary lapse to remove my apple watch. This caused a virtual exam termination . Little did I know this painful event was actually “for my good” because three months later I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. In 2023, I received my license to practice and began counseling women and couples.
It’s amazing to finally know what you want to be when you grow up, even when it comes at the age of 40. I love what I do (i.e. helping the helpers, and walking alongside women who are stuck and couples who are hurting). I can honestly say, everyday I learn and see God work in sessions. There are no words to describe that experience. This past year, I transitioned to full private practice and realized this next season is about both counseling (seeing clients) and ministry (creating and speaking). This summer, I will be self-publishing new content that further’s the integration of psychology and theology. While this content is unnamed at the moment, it is referred to as “The Resilience Project”. Nothing in life compares to seeing God work and getting to participate. This new content is my continued humble attempt to join God in Kingdom work and to encourage you to do the same. It is not an impersonal, manufactured AI message, but an imperfect and passionate lived-and-learned declaration from a sister in Christ. For more information on resources or therapy, please visit my website at www.christiemichaud.com.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Obstacles with counseling, or “opportunities for growth” (I see my daughters eye rolling right now as I say that), include boundary setting and caring for myself so that I can care for others. I like people and naturally want to help and not let them down. I have to constantly remind myself that my role is not to fix, because I can’t. My role is to help, walk alongside, and encourage. My duty in remaining healthy (spirit, soul, and body) is to implement self-care intention (or I like to call “vessel care’) so that I remain the lower case “c” counselor and allow the capitial “c” Counselor (God) to do His transforming work. This takes lending one ear to the client while the stays tuned in to the Holy Spirit.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Licences Professional Counselor in Private Practice and serving women, couples, and families in the SC area. My specialties include:
* Women – Providing safety and respite to process and unravel all seasons of life, improve relationships, and move forward in wellness.
* Couples – Rebuilding connection, trust, and health through communication and conflict resolution skill-building. Marital/PreMarital.
* Family – Repairing family dynamics and destructive cycles through rebuilding trust, boundaries, expectation, and communication.
What sets me apart is my passion for integrating psychology and Christian theology. I am also a teacher and writer with a blog and book resources who loves helping the helpers.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Mentors and accountability are key to growth. We need people in our life who are in a season ahead of us (to support us), in the season we are in (to navigate life with), and a season behind us (to offer support to). Always look for and see who God is placing in your path both professionally and personally.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.christiemichaud.com/
