Michelle Franklin, PhD

Dr. Michelle Franklin is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist dedicated to providing comprehensive and personalized mental health services to individuals, couples, and families in the Santa Cruz and greater San Francisco Bay Area. For over three decades, she has honed her expertise in a variety of therapeutic approaches, blending traditional and alternative methodologies to create a truly tailored treatment experience for each client.

Dr. Franklin believes that everyone deserves to live a fulfilling and meaningful life, characterized by strong relationships, personal growth, and overall well-being. Her mission is to empower her clients to navigate life's challenges, achieve their personal goals, and cultivate a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationships. She approaches her work with empathy, compassion, and a genuine desire to help individuals unlock their full potential.

Through years of dedicated study and practical experience, Dr. Franklin has cultivated a diverse toolkit of therapeutic techniques. This allows her to customize treatment plans to meet the unique needs of each client, ensuring that their journey toward healing and growth is both effective and efficient.

Individual Psychotherapy

Dr. Franklin offers both short-term and long-term individual therapy. Short-term therapy provides targeted support for clients facing immediate challenges, such as divorce, family conflicts, grief, substance abuse, or other specific issues. Long-term therapy is designed for individuals seeking deeper personal growth, self-discovery, and lasting change in thought patterns, behaviors, and relationships.

Couples Counseling

Dr. Franklin specializes in helping couples strengthen their relationships and navigate the complexities of partnership. Her approach emphasizes understanding the dynamics at play within the relationship, promoting open communication, and building a foundation of respect, trust, and intimacy.

Relationship Counseling

Beyond romantic relationships, Dr. Franklin addresses the unique dynamics of other important relationships, including parent-child, blended families, co-workers, and friendships. She provides guidance and strategies for improving communication, setting healthy boundaries, and fostering more fulfilling connections.

Group Therapy

Dr. Franklin believes in the power of shared experience and support. Her group therapy sessions provide a safe and structured environment for individuals to explore common challenges, develop coping mechanisms, practice interpersonal skills, and connect with others who understand their journey.

Enneagram Typing

Dr. Franklin incorporates the Enneagram, a powerful personality system, into her practice. This tool helps individuals gain a profound understanding of their own personality type as well as the types of those closest to them. This enhanced self-awareness illuminates strengths, challenges, motivations, and patterns within themselves and their relationships.

Specialized Services

Dr. Franklin offers specialized services tailored to specific needs, including:

• Divorce Mediation: Dr. Franklin's expertise in mediation helps divorcing couples navigate this challenging time with more clarity, compassion, and cooperation, minimizing conflict and focusing on practical solutions.

• Collaborative Divorce Counseling: This approach to divorce prioritizes a fair and amicable resolution. Dr. Franklin works alongside attorneys and other professionals to guide the process, ensuring that both parties' needs are considered and respected.

• Co-Parenting Mediation:

Dr. Franklin facilitates communication and cooperation between divorcing parents to create a co-parenting plan that prioritizes the well-being of their children. This process helps ensure a stable and nurturing environment for children during the transition.

• Trauma Recovery: Dr. Franklin utilizes EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), a proven, short-term therapeutic technique, to effectively address the lasting effects of trauma and PTSD, helping individuals heal and reclaim their sense of safety and well-being.