Michele Chandler, LCSW’s role at Samaritan Center is the Staff Wellness Counselor for the Dripping Springs Independent School District (DSISD) where she provides counseling and support to teachers and staff at all eight schools in the district. She supports the mental health and well-being of all employees in the district.
Michele Chandler began her social work career in 1978 when she took her first social work class in college. From that point on there has never been any doubt that helping others is her “calling” and she has devoted her career to making the world a better place, one person at a time. Michele is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) who has worked with a wide variety of populations ranging in age from toddlers to seniors. Her experience includes work in the fields of education, foster care, domestic violence, pain management, and private practice. She was also a member of the clinical faculty at The University of Texas School of Social Work for ten years.
Michele’s areas of specialization include working with individuals who have experienced trauma, grief and loss, those living with depression, anxiety, chronic pain and illness, infertility, relationship difficulties, and those experiencing challenging life transitions. She also enjoys working with couples and families, facilitating a greater understanding of communication, boundaries and healthy dynamics, and providing skills to cope with and overcome challenging situations in a more effective way.
Michele utilizes a variety of therapeutic approaches, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and mindfulness. She individualizes for approach for each person to help them address difficult life experiences and to create new, healthier ways to manage their lives. Michele believes that her role is that of a guide in one’s journey of healing and growth so that individuals can lead a more balanced life. Her approach is based on the belief that trust and the therapeutic relationship are the foundations for change and that the relationship is one of mutuality and empowerment.
Michele moved to Austin in 1984 for graduate school. She then fell in love with Austin, the Hill Country, and her husband. She and her family have lived in the Oak Hill area for 23 years. She is the mother of two adult daughters, and numerous rescued dogs and cats. Michele enjoys reading, yoga, hiking, and surrounding herself in nature.