Hello! My name is Michelle and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 9 years of experience working as a therapist. I earned my BSW from Kean University and MSW from Rutgers University. I have worked primarily with adults with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, relationship problems, stage of life transitions, grief, trauma, parenting issues, and severe and persistent mental health concerns.
My background is rich in diversity having worked in a variety of settings such as traditional outpatient/intensive outpatient, school based, residential, in-home, and most recently higher education. As such my theoretical framework is eclectic and I embrace "meeting my client where they are". I may know a lot about therapy, but no one knows you better than you!
You will find my counseling style to be compassionate, warm, playful, and authentic with an approach that is two-fold: offering relief through skills and strategies, as well as, uncovering the source of emotional pain, defenses learned over time, and drawing connections to present day problems and symptoms.
Thank you so much for taking the time to learn a little bit about me. I look forward to speaking with you.
Additional areas of focus: Addictions, LGBT, Relationship issues, Family conflicts, Grief, Intimacy-related issues, Eating disorders, Sleeping disorders, Parenting issues, Anger management, Career difficulties, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Attachment issues, Body image, Communication problems, Family Problems, Guilt and shame, Isolation / loneliness, Mood disorders , Panic disorder and panic attacks, Post-traumatic stress, Social anxiety and phobia
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy