Michele Corgiat, Ph.D., LMFT

License #MFT40776

Does This Sound Familiar?

On the outside, you seem to have it all together. But on the inside, it feels like a very different story.

You want to feel confident, secure, and at peace with who you are. Instead, you may find yourself:

  • Afraid of failing or of others seeing your imperfections

  • Constantly second-guessing yourself or looking to others for approval

  • Exhausted from trying to meet everyone's expectations and never giving yourself permission to rest

  • Feeling sad, lonely, overlooked, or disconnected

  • Unsure of who you are apart from the roles you fill or what others think of you

  • Battling a constant inner voice that tells you you're not good enough

  • Hiding parts of yourself because you fear what others might think if they really knew you

  • Feeling inadequate or undeserving of happiness, love, or good things

  • Feeling unseen, misunderstood, unworthy, or unwanted

You don't have to keep pretending that everything is okay.

A Place to Be Seen, Heard, and Understood

As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 30 years of experience, I provide a compassionate and authentic place where teens and adults can step away from the pressure to have everything figured out.

Together, we can explore what is beneath the anxiety, self-doubt, sadness, relationship struggles, or feelings of inadequacy you may be experiencing. Therapy can help you understand the roots of unhealthy patterns, process past hurts and trauma, develop healthier relationships, establish boundaries, and begin seeing yourself with greater compassion and clarity.

For clients who desire it, I also offer a faith-based approach to counseling, creating space to explore how your Christian faith can be a source of hope, healing, and purpose. Faith integration is always based on your individual preferences and goals for therapy.

Taking the First Step

Reaching out for counseling can feel intimidating, especially if you are accustomed to being the person who takes care of everyone else. You don't need to have the right words or know exactly what you need before you call.

When you contact me, we'll briefly talk about what brings you to counseling, your scheduling needs, and whether the services I provide are a good match for what you're looking for. If we decide to schedule an appointment, you'll receive access to a secure online portal where you can complete your paperwork and consent forms before your first session.

Sometimes the hardest part is simply making the first call.

You have spent enough time wondering whether things can be different. Maybe it's time to find out.

What can I expect at my first counseling appointment?

Deciding to go to a Therapist can be anxiety-producing. What will they think? Will they judge me? Will they think that I’m crazy? Will they understand what I’m going through? Each of these concerns is valid. Therapy, is a collaborative process in which a therapist and a client build a therapeutic relationship with the goal of increasing the well-being of the client by engaging in work to promote personal growth. Therapy is safe and confidential, though there are a limited amount of situations in which such confidentiality must be breached, according to the law.

During your first Therapy appointment, or your intake session, You will have the opportunity to express the reason you are seeking therapy and your Therapist will ask questions pertaining to such concerns. You and your Therapist will also have the opportunity to establish some goals for your counseling experience.

About Myself

I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Modesto, CA. I have been working as a counselor for over 25 years and have experience working with children, family and adults. I know that the journey to finding the right counselor for you and your family can be a challenging one. This web site is designed to provide you with information regarding some of the services I provide, as well as understanding who I am and how I work as a therapist.

Education and Training

II graduated from Azusa Pacific University in 1996 with a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology. After graduation, I returned to Modesto and spent two years as a Marriage and Family Therapist Intern in a group home for teens. I then joined the Center for Human Services in their school-based program, where I primarily counseled children and families. During this time, I also served on a multi-disciplinary team within the schools, gaining valuable experience with IEPs, school resources, and collaboration across school and county educational systems.

After completing 3,000 hours of clinical experience and passing the State Boards, I became licensed by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences in 2004. Shortly thereafter, I established a private practice in Modesto, where I continue to serve today.

In the spring of 2025, I earned a Doctorate in Psychology with an emphasis in Theology, further deepening my integration of clinical expertise and faith-based perspectives.

I find private practice deeply rewarding as it allows me to work with a broad spectrum of clients and apply my clinical skills in meaningful and diverse ways. I particularly enjoy working with couples, families, teenagers, and children, and I value the flexibility to provide high-quality, individualized care to those seeking therapy.

Your Investment

Therapy is a commitment and can feel like a considerable investment.

You may find it hard to reach out for help, or you might believe you don’t have big enough problems to warrant going to therapy. This isn’t true. You deserve to have a space dedicated to your healing and growth.

By committing to therapy, you are making an investment your future self will be grateful for.

The benefit of therapy is that you do not have to do this alone. I will be journeying alongside you, which can help you with the process. But it is essential to know that it will not always be easy. Some days you will feel lighter after finally getting something off your chest. Other days we might be unearthing something deeper that brings up emotions and thoughts you have not dealt with for a long time, which will take more emotional energy to tolerate. 

Committing to the therapy process is the best long-term investment you can make in your mental health.

Call (209)402=2717 for further information about cost.