Dr. Michelle Deeg-Davis, PhD, LPC (OR), LMHC (WA), CCMHC, ACS

I attribute my success to perseverance, compassion, education, and a willingness to keep moving forward even when I have questioned myself. My journey into the mental health field began in 2006 and has included clinical counseling, school counseling, higher education, teaching, research, and private practice. Growing up as a farmer’s daughter in southeast Idaho, I learned early the value of determination and resilience, and my experiences overcoming educational challenges taught me not to allow self-doubt or circumstances to define what is possible. Throughout my career, mentors, clients, students, family, and colleagues have shaped my growth and reminded me of the power of meaningful relationships and unexpected opportunities. I am especially passionate about trauma-informed care and believe healing begins when people feel safe enough to be seen, heard, and understood. My work has also reinforced that caring for others requires caring for ourselves, which is why I prioritize wellness, boundaries, and resilience in both my clinical practice and counselor education. Ultimately, I believe success is built through continuous growth, trusting my abilities, remaining open to learning, and having the courage to keep moving forward while helping others do the same.

The best career advice I have received has come through people and experiences rather than a single quotation. My middle school counselor showed me the profound impact one caring professional can have by simply showing up for someone during a difficult chapter. Years later, a former client helped me recognize another important calling in my career: supporting children and families affected by substance abuse and incarceration. Those experiences taught me that we may never fully know how deeply our actions can influence another person’s life. A counselor’s encouragement, a teacher’s belief, or a moment of genuine compassion can stay with someone for years. I carry that lesson into my own teaching and clinical practice by encouraging others to trust their experiences, remain open to unexpected opportunities, and recognize that their personal journeys can become a source of professional wisdom and purpose.

I encourage young women entering the mental health and counseling profession to lean into their experiences, trust their abilities, and not second-guess a path that feels meaningful to them. Imposter syndrome and outside expectations can create unnecessary limitations, particularly in academic and professional environments, but a perceived weakness does not have to become a permanent boundary. Ask questions, seek mentors, pursue opportunities for education and growth, and give yourself permission to discover what you are capable of rather than accepting someone else’s assumptions about you. Your experiences can become a source of strength and professional wisdom, so remain curious, stay open to unexpected opportunities, and have the confidence to define your own path.

One of the greatest opportunities I see in mental health and education is the continued development of authentic, trauma-informed systems of care. At the same time, one of the biggest challenges is recognizing that trauma-informed practice is more than implementing a program or checking a box; it requires an ongoing cultural and organizational shift in how we understand and support people. Creating meaningful change within established systems can take time, commitment, and collaboration. I believe educators, counselors, and institutions have an important opportunity to build environments where safety, wellness, resilience, and human connection are treated as foundational elements of effective care and education rather than secondary considerations.

Family, education, compassion, empathy, advocacy, equity, and wellness are central to both my personal life and professional work. I believe every person deserves to be treated with dignity and to have a safe environment where they can explore their experiences, heal, and discover their own resilience. That philosophy guides my clinical practice and my teaching, where I encourage future counselors to establish healthy boundaries and intentional wellness practices before taking on the emotional demands of trauma work. I believe sustainable compassion requires us to care for ourselves as intentionally as we care for others. My own journey has taught me that our experiences, including the challenges we face, can become powerful sources of purpose. From being supported by a caring counselor early in my life to preparing future clinicians today, I strive to turn perseverance into purpose and personal experience into a commitment to help others heal, grow, and believe in themselves.