Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Johnson, LPC.
Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey has been full of hills, valleys, bumps, and winding roads — but also stretches of clarity and purpose. What began as a personal battle with low self-esteem, anxiety, and trauma evolved into a calling to help others transform their own lives. Raised in a single-parent home due to my parents’ early divorce, my childhood was far from typical. I learned early to shoulder responsibilities and navigate challenges that often demanded more maturity than my years. Those experiences gave me a deep empathy for others who feel like life has tested them more than it’s blessed them.
Rather than dishonoring my past, I embrace it because it allows me to sit with people in their darkest seasons and say, ‘I see you, and I’ve been there.’ My journey has fueled both Transcend Living Transformative Counseling and my new venture, Lionisticly®. In fact, the heart of Transcend Living Transformative Counseling is found in the name of the practice. Transcend means to rise above or go beyond, and transformative counseling is about guiding people beyond what holds them back so they can live with resilience and hope.
But I didn’t stop there. Out of that vision came Lionisticly® — more than a brand, it’s a way of living. My message is simple: Be it. Do it. Live it, Lionisticly®. And that means embracing life with the confidence of a lion, tapping into the fierceness inside you that gives you strength to power through fear and uncertainty, and choosing to thrive.
In summary, from my childhood beginnings to the woman I’ve become, every trial has shaped my stride. I stand as proof that you can rise above your circumstances to be it, do it, and live it, Lionisticly®.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road, I say this with a chuckle. I’ve been neglected, rejected, displaced and without a home, hungry, and even battled with profound losses. At times, I worked two or three jobs just to make ends meet. I also worked under leaders who thought I needed ‘humbling’ and assigned me degrading tasks, all while I was silently battling depression, anxiety, poverty, and low self-esteem. What they did not know is I was giving all I had to survive, so yes, I walked with my head held high, but I was faking it while trying to make it, long before I ever heard the saying.
Actually, this brings to mind what I wrote in my blog, Strength in Humility, on my Transcend Living website: life has a way of using hardships to shape character. What others thought would break me became the foundation of my resilience. Those struggles deepened my compassion, sharpened my perspective, and gave me the drive to create spaces where people can find healing and self-worth without judgment.
We’ve been impressed with Transcend Living Transformative Counseling & Lionisticly® Be it, Do it. Live it. , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Mental health needs are greater than ever in our culture, and people are longing for safe, judgment-free spaces to heal. That’s where my work comes in. I’m deeply committed to helping people rise above anxiety, trauma, low self-esteem, and overwhelming emotions, especially in a time when workplace stress and social pressures feel heavier than ever.
Aside from the hats I wear in my personal life, I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and a self-improvement coach. My ideal client struggles with controlling strong emotional reactions to situations, deeply felt mood swings, unwanted thoughts that won’t go away, or past trauma that continues to affect their daily life. They may feel stuck in patterns of worry, fear, or self-doubt, longing for relief and a sense of control. More than anything, they want to break free from the weight of their mental health challenges, develop healthier coping skills, and rediscover a life filled with stability, confidence, and peace. Through Transcend Living Transformative Counseling, I guide clients using approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and cognitive processing therapy (CPT). Through Lionisticly®, I’m expanding into self-esteem coaching, motivational speaking, workshops, and corporate training. My vision for Lionisticly® includes stationery and lifestyle items (like journals, planners, and similar products), clothing, courses, and motivational content that spark confidence in everyday life. I’m also exploring podcasting as another way to inspire, uplift, and scale the brand to reach a wider audience.
In counseling, I specialize in CBT and CPT, working with clients struggling with PTSD, anxiety, mood instability, and low self-esteem. In coaching, I focus on helping people build, establish, and sustain healthy self-esteem. What I’m most known for, though, is the way I connect with people. My clients have shared in testimonials on my website, “Michelle has a way of making you feel seen without judgment” and “She creates space where healing feels possible.” That blend of professional training and lived empathy is what defines my work.
What sets me apart is that I’m not only a therapist but also an entrepreneur creating a lifestyle brand rooted in confidence. Many clinicians stop at the therapy room. I wanted to take it further to give people tools, motivation, and tangible products that help them live out the confidence they’re building. **Transcend Living **helps people rise above and heal. Lionisticly® empowers them to step into strength and live boldly. Together, they bridge healing and lifestyle transformation.
I’m proud that both of my brands are authentic extensions of my journey. Transcend Living represents resilience and rising above pain. Lionisticly® is about confidence, courage, and stepping into your best self. Even though Lionisticly® is still growing, I’m excited about its potential to become a movement, one that includes motivational clothing, courses, and creative products that people wear and live by. My vision is future-forward: I don’t just see clients; I see communities inspired to Be it. Do it. Live it, Lionisticly®.
I want readers to know there’s a doorway for everyone. If you’re seeking counseling, Transcend Living provides therapeutic support to help you rise above mood instability, trauma, anxiety, and self-doubt. If you’re seeking motivation or empowerment, Lionisticly® offers coaching, workshops, and soon, motivational clothing and self-help courses. My motto for the clothing line is something I’ve coined myself: “Clothing should make a statement, not just be worn.” Whether through therapy, coaching, or creative outlets, I want people to know that confidence and healing are possible and that they can live with strength, on purpose, and with boldness.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I don’t chase risk for its own sake, but I do believe that every major step forward requires a measure of it. For me, risk is faith in action , it’s movement. It’s choosing not to be stifled by fear, but to see risk as the doorway into new opportunities. Positive risk-taking launches the pursuit of dreams and fuels purpose fulfillment.
One of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken was moving from the Midwest to Texas by faith. I had presented my research at a state-wide symposium, which caught the attention of a representative from a master’s program in juvenile forensics. I’d been offered a scholarship, completed all the applications, and submitted everything for enrollment , but I hadn’t received my acceptance letter. With only two days before classes began , just enough time for a 20-plus hour drive that included an overnight stop for safe driving , I packed my car with little money, no confirmed housing, and the fear of not knowing whether I had even been accepted. Looking back, I know I couldn’t have done it alone; a friend came with me to share the drive and give me the courage to keep moving forward. Without her support, I may never have taken the leap.
If I had waited, who knows what my projected outcome would have been. Instead, I trusted God and leapt forward. That same willingness to move scared has carried me through launching my private practice and now into my next entrepreneurial adventure with Lionisticly®. To your question, yes, I see myself as a risk-taker, but not in the sense of recklessness. I’ve learned to step into risk when called, knowing that it often leads to the very doors I’ve been praying for. Every meaningful achievement in my life has required courage, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
My closing statement is this, from my childhood beginnings to the woman I have become, every trial has shaped my stride. I stand as proof that you can rise above your circumstances to be it, do it, and live it, Lionisticly®. Imagine what could happen if more of us dared to live this way, with confidence, purpose, and resilience. That is the invitation I extend, not just through my story, but through the work I continue to build.
Pricing:
- Individual counseling sessions: Competitive private practice rates, with sliding scale available.
- Corporate workshops and seminars under Lionisticly®: Custom-tailored; pricing based on group size and scope.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.transcendliving.com and www.lionisticly.com
