Michelle Torres, MA, MFA, AMFT
Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist #150977
Supervised by Mordecai Browning, LMFT
License information under legal name:
Melle Browning, LMFT #115804
MTMaxson
Employed by the Center for Mindful Psychotherapy at ExP Therapy in Petaluma and telehealth throughout California
Meet Michelle
Neurodivergent Affirming Therapist
As a neurodiversity-affirming therapist, much of my work is with autistic individuals, ADHDers, parents raising children with a PDA profile, and neurodivergent couples. I also support anyone seeking a compassionate, collaborative, and nervous-system-informed approach to therapy.
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At the heart of my work is the belief that people do well when they can. I believe meaningful change begins with feeling understood—not judged or "fixed." My approach is grounded in warmth, validation, and deep understanding, creating a space where clients can make sense of their experiences with curiosity and compassion while honoring their unique strengths, needs, and ways of moving through the world.
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Whether you're parenting a child who's struggling, navigating relationship challenges, or feeling overwhelmed by the demands of life, I help clients move beyond survival mode toward greater clarity, confidence, and change that feels authentic and sustainable.
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I work with people navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, burnout, relationship strain, identity exploration, and major life transitions. Many of the people I support are untangling years of masking, misunderstanding, chronic stress, or emotional overwhelm. Together, we focus on reducing stress, strengthening relationships, and building a life that feels more aligned, connected, and sustainable.
You're in the right place if...
You value a collaborative, compassionate approach to therapy and want support that honors your unique experiences, strengths, and ways of moving through the world.
You're feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected and want to move beyond survival mode toward greater clarity, confidence, and meaningful change.
You are a neurodivergent individual—including if you were newly diagnosed or are self-identifying later in life—and are exploring identity, relationships, burnout, or emotional wellbeing.
You're a parent raising a neurodivergent child, including children with a PDA profile, ADHD, or autism, and you're looking for an approach that helps your family thrive through connection, understanding, and nervous system regulation.​
You're navigating relationship challenges and want support improving communication, strengthening connection, and understanding one another more deeply.
“Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.”
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― Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet