Michelle Cortez, AMFT
Location: Newport Beach, California
Position: Lead Marriage and Family Therapist
License: Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist # 146795
Specialties
• Trauma and PTSD
• Anxiety and Emotional Overwhelm
• Couples and Relationship Challenges
• Communication and Conflict Resolution
• Attachment and Relationship Patterns
• Family Conflict and Family Systems
• Parenting and Coparenting Support
• High Conflict Coparenting
• Reunification and Parent Child Relationship Repair
• High Conflict Family Dynamics
• Emotional Regulation
• Life Transitions
• Identity and Self Worth
• Grief, Loss, and Adjustment
• Trust, Intimacy, and Relationship Repair
• Child and Adolescent Emotional Concerns
Experience & Training
• Experience working with trauma, anxiety, emotional regulation, relationship conflict, and complex family dynamics
• Trained in the Quiroz Bridge Method™ for structured, child centered reunification and parent child relationship repair
• Experience supporting couples with communication challenges, conflict patterns, emotional disconnection, trust concerns, and relationship stress
• Training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma informed care, attachment based interventions, and family systems approaches
• Experience supporting parents with parenting concerns, coparenting challenges, and high conflict family dynamics
• Training and clinical experience in reunification therapy, parent child relationship concerns, and family relationship repair
• Provides therapy under clinical supervision while completing licensure requirements as an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist
• Michelle provides a supportive, collaborative, and skill focused therapeutic experience, integrating evidence based approaches with warmth, empathy, and a strong understanding of relationships and family systems
Education
Master’s in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University
Bachelors in Psychology in Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), California from Cal State Fullerton
About
Michelle combines strong clinical training, trauma informed care, and genuine compassion to support individuals, couples, and families as they navigate emotional pain, relationship challenges, and major life transitions. Her areas of focus include trauma recovery, anxiety, relationship concerns, family conflict, emotional regulation, and life transitions.
Whether you are working through unresolved trauma, feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, struggling with communication in your relationship, or experiencing tension within your family, Michelle provides a supportive and collaborative space to help you better understand what is happening and begin creating meaningful change.
In her work with couples and families, Michelle helps clients identify unhealthy patterns, improve communication, strengthen emotional connection, and develop practical tools for navigating conflict more effectively. She also supports parents and families experiencing coparenting challenges, relational strain, and complex family dynamics.
Clients often experience Michelle as calm, compassionate, and approachable. She brings a steady presence to therapy while helping clients build emotional resilience, gain greater clarity, and feel more confident in their ability to move forward.
Off the Clock
Michelle is a bookworm at heart and loves spending her free time writing creatively. It’s one of the ways she connects with emotional expression beyond just using grounding skills. She truly believes therapy isn’t one-size-fits-all, and takes time to tailor her approach to each individual. This helps her build a collaborative relationship with her clients and allows her to gently challenge them when it supports their growth. What drew Michelle to this work is her deep curiosity about how emotions work and her belief that change is possible. For her, healing starts with understanding, processing, and expressing, and she feels honored to support others through that journey.
Connect with Michelle
Call or Text | Book a Free 10-Minute Consultation | Book an Appointment with Michelle
Frequently Asked Questions About Michelle Cortez
-
Michelle works with individuals, couples, and families in Newport Beach, CA. Whether you're navigating trauma, anxiety, communication struggles, or family conflict, she provides a supportive, structured space to help you heal and grow.
-
Yes—Michelle is an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT), which means she is pre-licensed and works under clinical supervision as she completes her licensure hours. This allows clients to receive high-quality care that is collaborative, trauma-informed, and often more affordable.
-
The Couples Therapy and Reunification Counseling is a private-pay practice. Michelle’s sessions are offered at a reduced rate to make therapy more accessible. We’re happy to provide superbills or help you explore reimbursement options through your insurance’s out-of-network benefits.
-
Clients who work well with Michelle are often navigating big emotions, major life transitions, or relational strain—and are looking for a therapist who is steady, compassionate, and grounded. Whether you’re processing trauma, feeling stuck in anxious thought loops, or struggling to communicate with a partner or family member, Michelle offers a calm and collaborative space to sort through it. She’s especially attuned to clients who want both insight and practical tools—and who value feeling truly heard in the therapy room.
Visit Our Mental Health Clinic
Book Appointment:
Monday - Friday: 9AM – 6PM
Saturday: 8AM - 4PM
Sunday: Closed
Clinic Hours:
Directions:
MONTEBELLO
NEWPORT BEACH
🚨 Important Notice: Emergency Situations 🚨
If you are experiencing a crisis, feeling unsafe, or need immediate assistance, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
For mental health emergencies, you can also contact:
📞 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Dial 988 (Available 24/7)
📞 National Domestic Violence Hotline – 1-800-799-7233
📞 Crisis Text Line – Text HELLO to 741741
Our practice does not provide emergency services. If you need immediate help, please seek emergency support.