Michensey Hamlin, LLMSW-C

Michensey Hamlin, LLMSW-C works with children, teens, and families experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, life transitions, and the emotional challenges that can accompany significant medical diagnoses, chronic health conditions, and acute illness. She provides a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where young people and families can build on their existing strengths while developing new ways to cope with difficult experiences.

Michensey believes therapy should meet children and families where they are. Her approach emphasizes empowerment, connection, and collaboration while helping families identify a path forward that reflects their individual needs, strengths, and goals.

About Michensey Hamlin, LLMSW-C

Michensey earned her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan. During her graduate internship, she worked with individuals across the lifespan and developed a particular passion for working with children, adolescents, and families.

Before pursuing a career in social work, Michensey earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Western Michigan University. Her background in music and coaching also contributes to her interest in helping performers experiencing performance anxiety.

Therapy for Children With Medical Conditions and Illness

Michensey has a special interest in supporting children, teens, and families coping with significant medical diagnoses, chronic medical conditions, and acute illness.

Medical experiences can affect more than a child’s physical health. Young people and their families may experience fear, uncertainty, sadness, anxiety, grief, changes in routines, loss of independence, or difficulty adjusting to a diagnosis or treatment.

Therapy can provide children and teens with a place to understand and express these experiences, develop coping strategies, communicate emotions, and adjust to changes in their lives. Michensey also recognizes that medical challenges can affect the entire family and works with caregivers when appropriate to support connection and coping within the family.

Therapy for Anxiety, Depression, Grief, and Life Transitions

Michensey also works with children and teens experiencing anxiety, depression, grief, and difficulties adjusting to changes or transitions.

Her strengths-based approach helps young people identify abilities and resources they already possess while developing additional strategies for managing emotions, solving problems, communicating needs, and responding to stressful situations.

CBT, Play Therapy, and Sand Tray Therapy

Michensey incorporates several therapeutic approaches into her work based on a child or teen’s developmental needs, experiences, and treatment goals. These include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help young people understand relationships among thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and develop practical coping strategies.
• Play-based therapy to give children developmentally appropriate ways to communicate, explore experiences, and practice skills.
• Sand tray therapy as an expressive approach that can help children and adolescents explore thoughts, emotions, relationships, and experiences that may be difficult to communicate directly.

Performance Anxiety

Michensey’s background in music gives her additional insight into the pressures experienced by musicians and other performers. She has significant experience coaching individuals experiencing performance anxiety and enjoys helping performers build confidence, manage anxiety, and work toward their goals.

Her experience as both a mental health professional and musician provides a distinctive perspective on the emotional and psychological demands that can accompany performing, auditions, competition, and high expectations.

Clinical Interests

Michensey’s clinical interests and areas of experience include:

• Children and teens coping with chronic medical conditions
• Adjustment to significant medical diagnoses
• Acute illness and medical stress
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Grief and loss
• Life transitions and adjustment difficulties
• Performance anxiety
• Family support
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Play-based therapy
• Sand tray therapy

Looking for a Therapist for Your Child or Teen?

If you are interested in working with Michensey or another member of our child and adolescent therapy team, you can request a therapy intake online. Our team can help determine which available provider may be a good fit for your child and family.

You may also call 269-615-7637 and select Extension 1 for assistance.