Michelle DeFino
Practical support for stress and life changes
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Experience
- 3 years
- Licensed in
- New Jersey, New York
- Languages
- English
- Format
- Online sessions
About Michelle
Michelle DeFino is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who focuses on practical help for everyday problems. She writes plainly and listens closely to figure out what matters most to each person. Michelle works from New York and uses clear, direct steps to address stress, anxiety, grief, mood changes, and struggles with addiction or impulsivity.
She combines straightforward talk with hands-on tools. That can mean learning skills to manage strong emotions, trying simple behavior changes, or practicing short mindfulness exercises to feel steadier.
Background and approach
Sessions are built around what a person needs that week, not a set script. Michelle has three years of experience as an LCSW and draws on several approaches to guide therapy. She uses cognitive behavioral techniques to identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns.
She also uses motivational interviewing to boost readiness for change and dialectical behavior therapy skills to reduce intense reactions. Her work includes support for relationship challenges, parenting concerns, and caregiver stress. Michelle also helps people coping with grief, financial stress, social anxiety, and problems that come after trauma or loss.
She describes goals in everyday terms and focuses on small steps that add up. Sessions may be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text messaging depending on what fits best. People should expect a collaborative conversation at the first meeting to set practical goals and plan follow-up steps.
Approaches to try online and how they help
Michelle typically uses cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy in online sessions. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to reduce stress, anxiety, or low mood. Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, teaches concrete skills for managing strong emotions, improving tolerance for stress, and reducing impulsive reactions.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about needs, goals, and preferences and then try strategies together. Goals are set in simple terms and adjusted based on what helps most in weekly sessions.
Online therapy is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. These options make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, to practice new skills between meetings, and to get timely support when stress builds. Licensed professionals can use the format that best supports each person's goals and routine.
Client-Centered Therapy
The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Michelle address?
What is Michelle's therapy style like?
What background does she bring to sessions?
Where is Michelle licensed and based?
Which languages are supported for sessions?
What session formats are available?
How are fees and payment handled?
How do I begin working with Michelle?
Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Addictions
- Grief
- Anger management
Also works with
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Depression
- Impulsivity
- Money and financial issues
- Parenting issues
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 3 years
- Licensed
- New Jersey, New York
- Languages
- English
Next step
Talk to Michelle
- Takes a few minutes
- Nothing to set up just to look
- Stop at any point