- Help for teens, adults, couples & families.
- Youth counselor, helping with teen depression & other teen problems
- Family therapy to to help with effective communication & other relationship issues
- More than just affirming LGBT therapist for the LGBTQQIA community
- Sexual orientation counseling, coming out, LGBT issues, bisexuality, and issues of discrimination
- Parenting support for single parents, couples & co-parenting exs to help with effective communication & conflict
- Family therapy for family members in dealing with the coming out process
- Understanding the complexities of gender & sexual orientation along the continuum, including expression, identity, transition and coming out, and the binary as well as those who identify as gender queer
- Transgender transition support & gender identity help throughout the gender continuum
- Couples therapy, understanding the unique needs of LGBT couples & non-traditional and non-monogamous couples, including helping with relationship issues, effective communication, boundaries, connection & intimacy
- Training & experience working with those with autism, ADHD or are neurodivergent
- Using many different approaches to help you & your family make sense of what is going on & what to do about it
Michelle Topal, MSW, LCSW
Child Psychotherapist, Sexual Orientation & Gender Therapist, Family, Relationship & Couples Counselor
LGBTQ+ Therapist, Child & Family Therapy & Relationship & Couples Counseling
Or for a counseling psychotherapy appointment, just click on schedule appointment below & schedule an appointment on your own.
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
~ Maya Angelou
Just Saying Hello
More About Me
Pursuing therapy is not easy for most of us. You’ll find me an authentic, dynamic, and sometimes humorous partner in sorting out the concerns that brought you to therapy. I want you to feel comfortable and at ease in the often difficult process of trusting someone with understanding the challenges you are facing. I see therapy as a conversation, so I am committed to being an active, open, and compassionate listener, who also welcomes feedback when I am “getting it” and when I am not. And though I may be trained and “know stuff”, I think it is the feeling of being heard that makes therapy a helpful experience. Accepting help figuring things out can be uncomfortable, so I’m a pretty down to earth person who knows that we all share in the need for help now and then. And below you will see a photo of my Westie, Ginsburg, who you will often see in sessions.
I am a cisgender white Jewish queer woman (she/her/hers) who has been an active part of the queer community for 40 years. I had the unique experience growing up with two parents who were social workers, including growing up in a summer camp. This rich experience shaped me; teaching me creativity, resourcefulness and a deep appreciation for people from all over the globe. My mother was vocal and active in fighting for human rights, including abortion rights, civil rights, and protesting the war in Vietnam. When possible she took me to these events; not just telling me her beliefs, but showing me her commitment to standing up for people and how to put that commitment into action.
These experiences engendered in me a sense of responsibility for speaking and acting to further the rights and well being of those in the community, particularly those who are marginalized. I value and support the brave activists who participate in furthering equality, justice and human rights in their’s and other’s communities, and make a commitment to providing a safe place for activists to share the existential concerns they may be experiencing in this scary time in history.
Professionally, I have been a licensed clinical social worker providing child and family counseling for over 25 years, helping adults, kids and families through the different challenges of life. I received an undergraduate degree in sociology, human sexuality, and gender and women’s studies, and a Masters in Social Work (MSW) at UNC at Chapel Hill. I earned my license as a clinical social worker (LCSW) in 2000. For over 35 years, my studies and experience, including volunteer work, have been in the areas of understanding and supporting people’s exploration of sexuality and gender.
I was the Advocacy Chair at the NC Society for Clinical Social Work for about two years, and now serve as Clinical Advocate, with the NASW-NC; participating in and advocating for the needs of clinical social workers and those who seek psychotherapy services at statewide committees to enhance treatment services to those in NC. Originally from the NY/NJ area, I have resided in and been providing counseling and psychotherapy services in Raleigh for more than 25 years. For more information about my experience, especially with kids, families and the LGBTQ+ community, you can resume here.
Contributing Expert to News & Observer’s Mom 2 Mom