I’m Dr. Michelle Williams, a post-doctoral fellow at Healthy Life with expertise as in health psychology, specializing in chronic illness, sleep concerns (including insomnia), and Long COVID. I help adults facing ongoing health challenges find practical, evidence-based ways to cope, adjust, and feel more in control of their lives.

My style is personable, down-to-earth, and collaborative. I see you as the expert on your own body and experience. My role is to bring psychological tools, health psychology expertise, and a steady, validating presence so we can work together toward the changes that matter most to you.

Health Psychology & Medical Experience

As a health psychologist, I focus on how physical health, stress, emotions, and behavior interact. I understand how medical issues can affect mood, identity, relationships, and daily functioning—and how anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and trauma can, in turn, worsen physical symptoms.

I’ve worked with individuals managing a wide range of conditions, including autoimmune disorders, chronic pain and fatigue, cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, and post-viral syndromes such as Long COVID. I’m comfortable collaborating with medical providers (with your consent) and can help you make sense of treatment recommendations, pacing, and the emotional impact of living with complex health concerns.

Areas of Specialty

Chronic Illness

Living with chronic illness often involves uncertainty, losses, and invisible burdens others don’t see. Together we can work on:

• Coping with diagnosis, progression, and flare-ups

• Managing anxiety, depression, and health-related stress

• Navigating changes in identity, independence, and roles

• Communicating needs and limits to loved ones and providers

Sleep Concerns & Insomnia

Sleep difficulties are common with chronic illness and stress—and they can quickly make everything feel harder. I use evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) to help you:

• Understand patterns that keep insomnia going

• Reset sleep schedules and routines

• Reduce nighttime worry and “mind racing”

• Develop a more peaceful relationship with sleep

Long COVID & Post-Viral Conditions

Long COVID can be confusing and isolating. Symptoms may fluctuate, and many people feel unheard or dismissed. In therapy, we focus on:

• Validating and understanding your experience

• Coping with brain fog, fatigue, and functional changes

• Managing anxiety, depression, and medical trauma related to COVID

• Finding sustainable ways to pace activity and protect energy

How We’ll Work Together

Clients often describe me as warm, clear, and approachable. In our work, you can expect:

• Collaboration: We set realistic goals together and revise them as your health and life shift.

• Evidence-based care: I draw from CBT, ACT, mindfulness, and health behavior change strategies, tailored to your energy, symptoms, and capacities.

• Validation: Your symptoms and emotions are taken seriously. You won’t have to “prove” how bad it is.

• Practical tools: We focus on skills you can actually use—on good days, flare days, and everything in between.

Our conversations may include stress, family, work, identity, grief, or meaning—because health touches every part of life. My aim is to help you feel more supported, more equipped, and less alone as you navigate both the healthcare system and your own inner world.

If you’re living with a chronic illness, struggling with sleep, or trying to find your footing after Long COVID, therapy can offer structure, understanding, and concrete strategies to help you move forward at a pace that fits where you are right now.