Saved our marriage! Michelle is incredible. My spouse and I were at a complete breaking point. We had tried traditional 50-minute weekly couples therapy in the past, but it felt like we spent the first 20 minutes getting caught up and the last 10 wrapping up, without ever getting to the root of our issues. We needed real help, fast. We found Michelle Shahbazyan and booked an intensive couples coaching session (her extended deep-dive session). It was hands down the best investment we have ever made in our relationship. I had seen her for some personal work many years ago and was so glad to have connected with her again for this new issue. Instead of just sitting back and taking notes, Michelle is direct, empathetic, and extremely solution-focused. Having that uninterrupted block of time during the intensive allowed us to finally tear down the communication walls, stop the endless cycle of arguing, and figure out what was actually going wrong in our marriage. If you are searching for a marriage coach or relationship counselor who actually gives you real-life, actionable tools rather than just generic advice, call Michelle. She completely shifted our perspective and gave us a clear path forward. We left our session feeling lighter, reconnected, and hopeful for the first time in years. Highly recommend her to any couple needing a true breakthrough! read more

My wife and I spent six and a half hours in our initial session with Michelle. It was helpful, but did not address a major concern (which had been presented to her prior to our first meeting). Within a week of our counseling session our marriage was worse than before. I contacted Michelle and she said that my wife is very guarded about her issues and the likelihood is that she doesn't want to work on herself. Michelle was correct. In hindsight I regret we agreed to such a long initial session. I think we should have limited our initial session to an hour or two. It could have flushed out my wife's lack of willingness and commitment to counseling and saved us an enormous amount of money with no positive result. read more

Where is the sixth star!? Seriously, I'm SO glad I was able to connect with Michelle for some issues I was having in my life and business. Within a few minutes I knew it would be a good fit and after our first session, I walked out feeling like a different person. I've worked with a lot of different business coaches and tried hypnotherapy with some solid results, but this was next level. She has a very direct approach which was great for me as we didn't need to hash out the past - instead, focus on the present and focus on how to create a better future. She helped me analyze my current situation and map out how to make my goals become reality. Couldn't reccomend her anymore, thanks so much for your guidance! I'll be back because it's so great to have such a trusted resource in your corner and helping you get past mental roadblocks. Thanks again! read more

Michelle is uniquely talented at discovering the core issues in a marriage and articulating it in a way that is easy to understand and follow. She provides practical advice based on the information she gathers in her session. My wife and I value a no nonsense approach to improving our marriage and Michelle provided that. She was carrying , thoughtful, and inspiring. We walked out of her office feeling reborn in our marriage. read more

I went to Michelle during a relationship crisis because I had tried counseling before, and it had not worked. Conventional psychotherapy techniques were not successful for me as an individual or as a couple. Michelle's profound knowledge, intelligence, insight, and her capacity to be straightforward and honest were what most impressed me. Her method helped me view things for what they really were instead of what I so badly wanted them to be, and it allowed me to think about my own identity and desires. Michelle gave unprejudiced advice and came across as a considerate, caring best friend. Her skills come highly recommended. read more

I had the pleasure of working with Michelle and am so impressed with the impact that just one session made. Michelle is incredibly knowledgeable and provides steps to take that are personalized to you in order to improve your life and work towards your goals. I am so happy I connected with Michelle and highly recommend her! Thank you so much Michelle you are truly amazing!!!!!! read more

Michelle is the Michael Jordan of life coaches. Love her work. It's like having a modern day philosopher as your mentor. Highly highly recommend. Better than any other Thera pairs I've ever tried. Completely different experience. read more

I had the privilege working with Michelle twice on two different family issues. Once 5/6 years ago (few sessions) and the second time very recently (2hr session) . Both times very effective! Shes a good listener & her advices have been very on point & helpful. My connection with Michelle has been very positive. When we talk, I feel like I've known her for a very long time. Definitely give her a try!!! read more

Michelle is absolutely the best there is (THANKS AGAIN M!!!) My partner and I's session with Michelle has definitely allowed me to understand a lot of the issues my partner and I were having were in fact self imposed as a result of careless decisions and poor judgement. It wasn't until hearing these blunt (straightforward / honest) truths from Michelle that I fully understood the negative, long term impact to our relationship caused by what I thought were simply minor daily choices / decisions. I came to realize that I had allowed myself to become comfortable and complacent as it pertained to my spending habits and working on becoming a better me / us by not planning for our future selves. It was shocking when I finally was able to see clearly that by becoming careless, complacent, selfish, & comfortable, etc.. those associated actions resulted in my partner to become distant, non communicative, feeling financially unstable, uncertain about their future both as a couple and unfortunately forced them to envision what life would look and feel like without me in it. It's definitely been a roller coaster filled with highs and lows but this session allowed me to see that it's a roller coaster ride I never want to get off of.. I want to just ride and ride and ride continuously. Michelle, in a very easy to understand way explained that my actions and choices (big, little, massive, mini) those decisions will inevitably determine how long and far my coaster with my Fiancé will go until it reaches the next stop.. my stop. It's always been too easy for me to live carelessly / impulsively whenever there is a chance for immediate gratification. I have since learned that those quick /burst feeling/s of happiness, thrill, etc.. immediate gratification brings never stick around long / lasts & always found myself looking for my next fix whether it be an eBay purchase, some more sneakers, materialistic things.. things I was choosing over having a tighter relationship with my partner. I'm definitely working on becoming a better version of myself every day while doing my best to implement the pillars of a successful relationship that Michelle outlined to us both during our session. I've since spoken to others about our session in a very brief / minimal manner as to not discuss in house topics with anyone other than my partner.. when doing so.. I often found myself with feeling of wanting to hate the session.. feeling like I picked the wrong therapist.. feeling like It was easy for Michelle and my partner to hang up on me and point blame at me.. making it seem as if I was to blame for all of our relationship problems due to what I thought at the time were those harmless / non impactful choices I had been making.. feeling though as if enough attention had not been directed toward my partner and their contributions to the downfall / destruction of our relationship, quality of life, environment, mental health / happiness.. etc.. etc.. it wasn't until then I realized how productive, successful, & needed OUR session with Michelle actually was. I found myself comparing it to a deep tissue massage oddly enough. A common saying goes.. 'A really good massage isn't one that feels good.. it's one that really fu*kin' hurts..' that's when you get the most benefit.. painfully working to break down all of that old scar tissue which as a result releases toxins trapped within that have accumulated over time through continual use, built up like calluses on the hands of a bull rider; day, after day, after day.. then.. and only then you will begin to heal.. by using this comparison is when I understood how valuable the time we shared together actually was. I understood that in order to heal and overcome.. I had to go through that painful process of breaking down. The process of hearing what I did not want to hear.. but needed so badly to hear. I needed to hear this from a third, non-involved party, someone who was an outsider / person that I did not know.. a stranger.. unfortunately that's what it took for me personally to understand myself and my partner and what is wanted, needed, expected, & desired of me in order to produce a rock solid foundation that our relationship is built up from. A relationship renovation of sorts if you will would have always been how one talks about backsplashing their kitchen wall but never gets around to actually doing it. Instead of stepping up to the plate and digging in. Michelle helped me understand that by acting on those.. what I thought to be (prior to our session) seemingly easy, impulsive / selfish choices (across the board)I had and were actively choosing to make were in fact the BIGGEST choices of my life. Those choices I had put so little thought into making were slowly determining the future life my partner and I would have.. together or separately. Every choice has a direct result / consequence.. Michelle helped me to realize / understand that to make any sort of permanent choice or decision based upon read more

My boyfriend and I Spoke with Michelle about communication and improving it. I like her methods of using longer but fewer sessions. In her own words "often it only takes one to two sessions". We spoke with her for 2.5 hours on a Sunday and felt like we got a lot from it. Michelle was very insightful and was able to pinpoint a lot of our major issues in this time. I would highly recommend her to anyone wanting to improve their communication with a partner or family member. read more

Michelle does not beat around the bush. She gives you her expert advice and gives it to you directly and honestly. I tried a different therapist before her and felt like we were just circling around issues... with Michelle its just pure problem solving. Another great aspect is her willingness to text and set appointments just about whenever you need them. I would highly recommend her for life coaching, therapy etc. I feel blessed having an expert I can text or call or meet up with to figure important things out. read more

Michelle is incredible. She is patient, kind, tolerant, and most importantly for her clients, wise. She made both of us feel heard, but she also didn't waste our time trying to finesse or help us argue about anything. Her approach is unique and effective because she doesn't attack any of the symptoms of bad communication and instead directs her clients to discover the source of their issues, and then tailors advice and strategies for each partner to use, and there's no delay between her advice and the ability to adhere to it and change your relationship, and your life. Hiring Michelle is a rare moment in life where you are being both "penny-wise AND pound-wise!" If you love your partner and you want to succeed, look no further and give Michelle a call. read more

Very helpful in remembering what important, great listener, helped me work through some really big challenges that seemed impossible to overcome. read more

Michelle is very relatable and easy to connect with, she made me feel like I was talking to a genuine friend that would tell me what's up in a loving way. She has really made an impact in my life even in a very short time. I highly recommend especially for business people or people just looking for answers on what they should do in their life or in tough situations. Sometimes an outside perspective from someone who doesn't know you can change your life. read more

She has been absolutely amazing and is well worth the money! Very friendly and straight to the point.

Michelle was amazing! She really gets deeps and helps you understand what your issues are. My husband and I had so many issues that seem bigger then what they truly were. She made us realized that the issues are fixable if we know how to communicate. We left feeling like two lovebirds and we are so grateful. One session was so helpful and it made us realized that our issues were insignificant. We will definitely go again if we need it, but I doubt it!! read more

Terrible. Made blanket assumptions about our marriage based on generalizations from her narrow purview. Think less active listening, coping skills, and problem solving and more judgmental thinking. Acted like a fake psychic, making predictions to instill fear. Definitely more harm than help. Dangerous too. Planted seeds of doubt in my husband's head. "What do you think your wife does all morning? She probably has two or three guys lined up already." This after meeting her once. She is going based off her limited education. When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Waste of $1000 for two sessions. read more

**Update** Worth every penny. Our first session ran 3 hours long and she was so informative and beyond helpful. One day isn't a long time to base results on but seriously something she said really touched base with my husband. I think it was at the end when she noted how hard it is to glue a broken vase back together once its been broken into too many pieces. Cause he saw me crying and knew I was ready to give up and after the call was over he grabbed me and said we aren't going to use glue, we're going to take all the broken pieces and some epoxy and mold this vase into a stronger, prettier, better vase than it was before. And then... he backed it up. Its like he flipped a switch and turned back into the person I walked down the isle with. I was so impressed I took a chance and brought up a topic later on which I'd been afraid to say anything about because it would definitely have made him mad before and he didn't even get irritated. And quite frankly its about time someone flat out told me there's no excuse for laziness and to more or less get my shit together. I don't know if everyone can expect that kind of result... I certainly didn't. But I'll take it. Also, she seemed like the kind of person that would be cool to hang out with on a weekend. like my husband would say, he wouldn't mind having a beer with her sometime. ***** My review should be taken with a grain of salt as I haven't had my first session yet but will tomorrow because this woman was able to schedule my husband and I for an appointment immediately and was super flexible about it. And I also want to say thank you to the reviewer that gave her one star for saying she told them to get a divorce. Thats what made me want to go with her. Not that I'm hoping for that advice, but in my opinion if an impartial outside party with a focus in the field of marital counseling is even slightly of the opinion a divorce is the way to go...let alone enough to say it out loud- then that's some advice you need to hear. Just cause you can fit a triangle through a round hole if you try hard enough, doesn't mean its good for the triangle, or the hole. While I suspect my husband and I probably have a way to figure things out, I know one of both of us will have a lot of hard stuff we need to hear. Looking forward to some honest and difficult advice. I can only imagine how hard a task it is to deal with people who cant communicate with each other all day long and try to tell them delicately what issues they have. Not everyone handles criticism well. read more

Michelle is very down to earth and felt she was really genuine in helping my marriage. She was easy to talk to and made us feel comfortable. Highly recommend her! read more

Michelle was outstanding! I tried everything to get out of my funk/anxiety/apathy...self-help podcasts, books, journaling, meditating, etc., but nothing helped long-term. On a whim I looked online and found Michelle. Her goal is to meet once (maybe twice) with you and given her style, that is all you need. I don't know how she did it, but she totally flipped the switch in my thinking and approach to relationships. She was compassionate, extremely insightful, and direct. I appreciated her focus on the now and the tools you already have to forge a new path. If you are need of a mind-set shift, Michelle is it and worth every cent! read more

I recommend Michelle, hands down, time and time again. She is so thoughtful and caring and really listens to her clients and the issues they have. Michelle is wonderful for individuals as well as couples and her advice is narrowly tailored to the issues those people are having. I am a divorce attorney and I see the actual changes her approach has on my client's lives. Everyone who I referred Michelle to has been grateful. Her compassionate demeanor makes her easy to open up to and therefore makes it easier to get through the issues people are going through. If you're looking for a person to connect with, go with Michelle. You won't waste your time and she's worth every penny. read more

Completely UNETHICAL. I'm thinking about reporting her to the BBB as well. I scheduled an appointment with Michelle in August of 2015, my husband and I were both at the session. It took A LOT of convincing to get him to see a marriage counselor and after an explosive argument he finally agreed that he would give marriage counseling a try. Michelle ultimately told us that since we were young and didn't have kids we should just get a divorce. She said we were wasting valuable years of life that we could spend dating to find someone more compatible. Even if she truly thought that - it is unethical and harmful. Couples stop trying when THEY are done; not when the therapist is done. And so, I was married to my husband for 7 years without therapy or advice to get me through it. He refused to see another therapist after that citing that we were beyond professional help. We never learned how to communicate with each other and he never dealt with past traumas brought into the relationship. I'd also like to assure a previous reviewer that Michelle also asked pointed and rude questions during my session as well. I can't remember all the specifics now but one thing that stood out is that she was VERY interested in what my husband did for work but didn't ask me about my job. Or seem interested. She asked what I did while I was at home during the day (since I worked evenings), but nothing more than that. She also had us describe our ideal partners and laughed when I described mine. She said, oh so you want a laid back guy who doesn't work? That will always stick with me. *Also, in response to her saying she doesn't have too many negative reviews - I'd think there are more people like me out there. Who didn't have a positive experience but internalized it as their own fault. So, it's 2020 - why did it take so long to write this review? It took multiple therapists to tell me how unethical this was. I had internalized that getting help for my husband and I was shameful, and that we were beyond help. The truth is, if you want help then a therapist should be the last person to give up! Even though I know she couldn't save my marriage she should have given us better tools of communication we were asking for and let us decide what's worth saving. read more

My husband and I have tried a few therapists and our experience was pretty underwhelming and felt like a waste of money and time. Why is an hour the construct of a session? Why do we have to be subject to some sort of interview "therapy formula"? We knew Michelle would be our "cup of tea" from the initial contact. She was incredibly responsive, professional and made us feel comfortable during the consult, so much so that we booked a longer session that day. What she is doing is definitely different than other experiences and, I for one, absolutely love it. It doesn't feel strange or clinical, it feels refreshing and honest and exactly what you hope therapy can/ should be. We talked wayyy longer than I thought we would and it was worth every single penny. She listens and gives you what YOU need rather than just some homework until the next session. Michelle is a true therapist that I cannot recommend more enthusiastically! read more

She really is as good as it gets. I originally went to see Michelle for some life and business coaching/ goal setting. She asked to see my husband for two sessions so that she could get an idea of my life with him. He gladly and willingly came with me. Within two sessions, she was able to fix issues that two of us have been working on for over a year and a half. She is able to communicate in a direct way in which you really "get" what she is saying and is able to throw techniques and resources your way that are very helpful. My experience with her continues to inspire and mold me into the person and business I want to be. read more

I can sum it up by saying "All you need to do is sit and listen". I would highly recommend Michelle's expertise and experience. Most therapists speak, Michelle is really good at listening. Her energy and enthusiasm is extremely contagious and the best part of my experience was that she was completely honest. I would strongly vouch for Michelle and her services. read more

Ms. Michelle helped me through some issues, helping me to discover epiphanies and resolve matters that kept bothering me. What a relief. She is highly intelligent, observant, and knowledgeable about psychology. She is also compassionate, patient, and respectful, since talking to someone new about issues can be daunting, stressful. Rest assured that you are working with a professional and that she works to help you! read more

Michelle is really amazing at her work. As my Life Coach, she has counseled me through my college and career making decisions at such a critical time in my life. When I first started seeing her, I was so confused and stressed out with all the decisions I had to make while trying to balance my social and family life. Michelle brought me to a point of balance and clarity that is beyond what I thought was ever possible. She even saw my parents on a few occasions and our relationship is light years more pleasant than it ever has been. I can't thank her enough for spending the time with me and really helping me sort through the minutia of my personal life. I have no idea where I'd be without her help. She knows so much about so much that I feel like she'll be my Life Coach through anything I experience moving forward. Investing in sessions with Michelle was the best thing I've ever done for myself. Consider yourself lucky if you can do the same. I feel emotionally stable and mentally prepared to take on any challenge that comes my way. Michelle is my Life Coach for life. read more

I started seeing Michelle about 2 months ago due to some challenges I was facing in my life and due to my unhealthy ways of trying to cope with those challenges. I am so lucky to have found her as she has helped me understand my challenges and has helped me learn new ways of facing those challenges that are more positive. I felt like I was on the road to destruction and knew I needed someone to help guide me, Michelle was that person for me. She was very reachable, friendly and genuinely cared about me. I recommend her to anyone who needs some guidance and help. I have seen other therapists in the past, who were quick to label me. However, Michelle was the only one who took the time to really get to know me and to help me. She makes herself available via text, phone and Face time. She is special and extremely caring. read more

My wife and I have continued to see Michelle for over a year now and we are so glad that we have been seeing her. Her patience and calm presence have really taught us how to interact with each other more effectively in each small instance that has come up in this last year. If both you and your partner are committed to making your relationship stronger instead of splitting up, call Michelle and she can make it happen. We, like many other couples were worried about getting divorced when we couldn't figure out how to talk to each other and we both became so miserable that it was intolerable. Through making a different kind of effort with working with Michelle as a Life Coach and a Therapist, we discovered that neither my wife nor I wanted divorce at all. In fact, what we were both looking for was to be able to be closer and more connected. Now that we have that, we do everything we can to maintain it. I can't recommend Michelle enough. Weekly or twice a week sessions, when there is too much going on, can add up financially, but I cannot imagine spending the money on anything else. When it comes to the value we gained from working with Michelle, it was truly worth every penny and more. There really is no way to put a price on changing your life for better than what you can imagine it to be. The tools my wife and I have learned are now incorporated into our way of being and we know that we will be together for the rest of our lives, no matter what. We know we don't need to see Michelle forever, but we're definitely going to keep her as an ongoing resource instead of letting new problems that naturally arise in life damage our relationship. It's a good feeling to have someone who knows us so well available to contact. It doesn't make any sense to us anymore to be stuck when we have someone to turn to that can help us see clearly and work with us to understand each other better. The safety and love that has grown from the process of working with Michelle are aspects of my life that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. Go see her once, you'll know what I'm talking about. read more

Michelle is Scottsdale's best kept secret. We found that she has a unique and special approach to couples counseling. She helped us understand how we need to change as individuals in order to make the relationship work. It was an unbelievably eye opening experience. She was quick to respond by text and phone before the appointment and was very easy to talk to from the start. She knows more about life and psychology than anyone I've ever met or known about, and we listen to a lot of podcasts and videos. Her style as a Life Coach and not just a Marriage and Family Therapist is very interactive with a lot of feedback and guidance. Our first and only needed session was a little over 3 hours where we covered everything that was creating problems in our marriage. We were able to resolve issues that have been lingering for years in that first session. All we could think afterwards was that we wish we had found Michelle sooner. She is calm, understanding, and will call you out if you're contributing to a problem. We resolved our conflictual was of communicating and have had such an easier relationship since our one session. Her thorough knowledge on families and how your past, present, and future work together made all the difference in how we are as a couple. As a side note, she is ultra knowledgeable on business, money, and the mound-body connection so she really understood where we were at in our life and where we want to be holistically. I can't recommend her more. We were referred by a friend of ours who has seen her and has been raving about her for a couple of years. I know a couple of other people who have gone to see her for individual ongoing work and they are so different from the experience as well. If you're looking for a life change, for a new perspective, for an unforgettable insight creating therapy session, look no further. You may find the same sustainable peace and happiness in your life that we found in ours after one session as well. read more

Best marriage consoling I've ever had. She is very understanding and down to earth. She will tell you how it is and straight forward!

ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND!!!!! Been to her few times for different reasons and within the first two-three visits I already feel good.. she LISTENS.. not just hears you! And that to me is very important! Definitely will go back, definitely recommend!! read more

I didn't even know a therapist like this existed. She listens, gives feedback, and helps you on finding solutions to your problems. I highly recommend her. read more

I wanted to see a therapist to work through transitioning from my parents home to living on my own. I tried doing so much on my own for a couple years, but after seeing Michelle for two sessions, she helped me achieve much more than I had even considered possible. I've been to three therapists over the years but Michelle is something very different. She beats to her own drum. After reading her reviews, I had to go see what she was all about for myself. I'm so glad I did. She is really chill and understanding. Her office is very zen, sleek, and calming. Seeing her isn't like going to a typical therapist. She's very goal oriented and really listens to every detail of what's going on and helps me to shift my perspective in every session. It's money so well spent. She does phone and video sessions too which is awesome because I travel a lot. I'm glad to have someone to check in with at any point in my life in the future. read more

I am very happy to have found Michelle Shahbazyan. I had been putting off speaking to someone professionally regarding stress and anxiety after feeling frustrated and unsupported by the resources available through my health care medical group. Reaching out to her through her website, Michelle got back to me within a day, gave me information regarding how her sessions work, what they cost, and we were able to set a time easily. I found her to be a great listener and found speaking to her very comfortable. She found insights into my concerns that I had not considered and offered practical advice for me to to implement, which is exactly what I was looking for. I appreciate greatly that she is willing to work with financial concerns. There is no pressure in setting up appointments. I feeling encouraged and supported. read more

It really doesn't get any better then Michelle! Thoughtful, incredibly intelligent and significantly insightful. She tremendously cares for her patients and the results show! The experience has and continues to change my life for the better. I am forever grateful! read more

I have to admit, when I initially sought help from Michelle, I was fairly apprehensive. Growing up in a traditional household, it was hard to shake the stigma of seeking help in terms of mental health. My girlfriend and I were hitting a particularly rough spot in our relationship at the time. Michelle put all my concerns to ease. She was empathetic and attentive. Through our sessions, we were both able to gain insight on the sources of conflict within ourselves and with each other. Aside from being an incredible listener, Michelle provided us advice and tools we could utilize to have enriching lives, not just within the relationship, but also within ourselves. There were even times outside of sessions, when I desperately needed her help. Every time, she made herself available and was able to get me through some of the toughest times. As someone who considers himself somewhat cynical, I truly believe that Michelle cares for the well being of my girlfriend and me. Today, I am not the same person that she had initially met. I feel confident and hopeful. My relationship is flourishing and I have Michelle to thank. And even though, I know that life will happen in ways I cannot anticipate, I now have the tools to deal with them head-on. I honestly could not recommend her more. My only regret is that I had not sought her help earlier. read more

The life coach is very different than counseling . She actually talks to me and gives me good choices and tools that I have not had tried before for my issue. She is very knowledgable . Kind and caring . Thank you. read more

I am so thankful I found her! I texted her that I needed to speak to her ASAP and she called me in an hour. We had a great conversation. Needless to say she helped me so much in the hour I spent talking to her over the phone. Everyone can use someone neutral to speak to. Thank you Michelle for listening and for your great advise. It is really appreciated. read more

I have been relying on the expertise of Michelle for years. She is very easy to talk to and empathetic. She doesn't behave as tho she knows everything which is a comfort to me. I received valuable insight and empowerment every time I talk to her. Definitely recommend. Thank you Michelle read more