About Michelle
Counselor | Ceremonialist | Cavelorist
Michelle Rigling is doctorate-level Transpersonal Counselor, Certified Eco-Therapy Guide, and Trauma-Informed Plant Spirit Medicine Facilitator. She is board-certified and has a private practice in Chattanooga, TN. Michelle offers counseling and events that integrate nature, depth psychology, and soul-centered practices. Her goal is to empower others as they reclaim their own life, reconnect with self and spirit, and navigate life's challenges in authentic ways. With curiosity and intuitive awareness, she holds space for hard questions, holistic recovery, spiritual questing, and whole-self healing.
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
-Mary Oliver
Professional Bio
Michelle's work is the culmination of over 14 years of professional social work, continuous education in trauma-informed mental health, and years of nature-centered spiritual and wellness event planning. She is board certified and devotes time each year to continued education in neuropsychology and trauma-informed counseling, as well as advancing her skills as a ceremonialist through trainings and apprenticeships.
Education
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PhD Transpersonal Counseling
M.Sc. Transpersonal Counseling
MBA Business Administration
BS Metaphysical Sciences
BS Psychology
OM Wisdom of the Heart Church
Certifications & Training
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Certified Eco-Therapy Guide
Dialectal Behavior Therapy, PC
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, PC
IAW Life Coach, Int. Certification
Liberating Structures, Facilitator
Family Systems, Group Facilitator
HealthRhythms, Drum Facilitator
Somatic Processing
Herbal Body Shamanics ©
WRAP © Facilitator
Certified Hypnotist
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Teaching Plants Training with Hyapatia Lee, Cherokee Elder
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6 Month Hapé Apprenticeship with Chief Haru (Kuntanawa Nation)
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Noteworthy Experiences
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In-person training with Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés
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Supervision under a Child Trauma Academy Fellow
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CPS © Training with Dr. Stuart Ablon
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Teaching at various conferences including the New Orleans Trauma Conference, the Crescent City Trauma Conference, and The Midsouth Women's Herbal Conference
"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." -Rumi
Testimonials
"We have a tendency to put up shields to protect ourselves, but in any setting with Michelle, I have always found a group of women who are willing to set those aside. The moments we have shared have been raw; whether they were moments of joy, sadness, excitement, or anger, and we have found a place where we can let our guard down and connect to others as our authentic selves." LG
"Michelle asks questions I would have never thought to ask myself." -LB
"Michelle, you speak to the parts of us no one else speaks to. You help us remember, then you sing the song that brings us back to life." TE
"Michelle's gatherings have given me a safe and supportive space to feel like I can be 100% authentic and not be judged. I am welcomed as I am. Sharing my experiences with others that understand me has been cathartic and healing. These gatherings fill my cup so I can be more for my family and others. They are acts of self-love." -AG
"Let us push on now, and remember ourselves back to the wild soul."
-Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés