healthy living counseling center
Healthcare Professionals
Dr. Michelle Kukla, PsyD.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist • Certified First Responder Counselor —
Supporting medical professionals, hospital staff & shift workers to thrive — not just survive.
“You spend your life caring for others. Let us care for you.”
After more than 10 years working directly in hospital settings and extensive experience supporting medical professionals, Dr. Kukla deeply understands the challenges unique to this field: long hours, shift work, fragmented sleep, family stress, secondary trauma, and the pressure to “keep going” at all costs. At Healthy Living Counseling Center, you’ll find a dedicated partner who gets your world — and helps you build resilience, restore balance, and protect your mental health.
Ready to take the next step toward feeling supported?
Why Medical Professionals Need Specialized Support
Medical settings demand more than technical skill. As a clinician you’ve likely witnessed:
• Lives and deaths in the same shift
• Grief, suffering, and high emotional stakes
• Ever-changing schedules and demands
• Pressure to maintain composure despite internal strain
Over time, these stressors accumulate. Many clinicians experience:
• Burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, diminished sense of accomplishment)
• Anxiety, depression, insomnia
• Compassion fatigue / vicarious trauma
• Relationship strain and guilt
A recent meta-analysis showed that among mental health professionals, ~40% report emotional exhaustion, ~22% report depersonalization, and ~19% low personal accomplishment. PubMed
In the broader healthcare world, burnout is pervasive — and worsened by crisis periods like COVID-19. PMC
Medical professionals often work nights, rotating shifts, or extended hours — creating high vulnerability to physical and psychological harm:
Shift workers have a higher risk for depression, anxiety, and poorer self-rated health compared to non‑shift workers. PubMed
Disrupted circadian rhythms increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, gastrointestinal issues, cancer, and more. UCLA Health
Insufficient or fragmented sleep is a major catalyst for psychiatric symptoms. Psychiatry Advisor
In hospital studies, 61%+ of professionals caring for patients with prolonged conditions showed significant burnout. PubMed
In short: the very structure of many medical jobs — shift rotations, long nights, high-stakes decisions — imposes a biological and emotional burden.
Institutional & Clinical Experience
- Over a decade of clinical work within hospital environments, working side-by-side with physicians, nurses, residents, techs, and support staff
- Firsthand awareness of hospital culture, hierarchy, burnout pressures, shift culture, and the emotional load that clinicians carry
- Experience consulting with medical teams to support staff mental health
- Specialized training in trauma-responsive care, sleep psychotherapy, systemic family stress, and resilience-building
Tailored, Evidence-Based Care for the Medical Community
At Healthy Living Counseling Center, therapy is not generic — it’s informed by your profession’s realities. Our services include:
- Individual therapy tailored to clinicians, shift workers, medical support personnel
- Trauma-informed approaches (EMDR, Internal Family Systems, somatic modalities)
- Sleep and circadian rhythm work (behavioral strategies, cognitive therapy for insomnia, shift‑work adaptations)
- Family Member Support — helping your loved ones understand and adjust to the demands of medical work
- Wellbeing training, resilience workshops, institutional consultations
Our aim: not to just “help you survive,” but to support you in thriving despite (and with) the demands of health care.
Who We Help
If you are (or know) any of the following, we may be a strong match:
- Physicians (attendings, residents, hospitalists)
- Nurses, nurse practitioners, LPN/LVN
- Physician assistants, CRNAs
- Respiratory therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists
- Laboratory technicians, radiology techs, imaging staff
- Clinical support staff, unit coordinators, scribes
- Other hospital/clinic employees affected by irregular hours or emotional strain
- Family members of Medical staff
You may struggle with:
- Feelings of emotional exhaustion, numbness, or detachment
- Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
- Mood shifts, irritability, anxiety, intrusive thoughts
- Guilt, moral injuries, burnout, loss of meaning
- Relationship conflicts due to odd hours
- Trauma from critical incidents or repeated high-stakes events
- Difficulty recharging on days off
If this resonates, you don’t have to face it alone.
What to Expect When You Reach Out
“We believe healing is relational and cumulative — small shifts over time can build deep resilience.”
Voices of Validation (Evidence & Testimonials)
“Burnout and professional stress among U.S. health care workers increased from ~30% in 2018 to nearly 40% in 2022, with primary care physicians highest in sustained burnout.” JAMA Network
“Shift work raises risk of depression and anxiety; disturbed sleep can precede or worsen almost any mental health condition.”
Psychiatry Advisor
“As an ER nurse, Dr. Kukla helped me reclaim my nights off and re-balance with my family.”
Why Healthy Living Counseling Center is the Right Choice
You’re Not Alone — Healthy, Sustainable Care for Yourself is Possible.
If you’re ready to begin:
Schedule your free 15-minute consultation
Reach out by phone: 847-701-4452 or email via the Psychology Today Portal