- Anxiety and depression
- Life transitions
- English and Spanish
About Michelle
Michelle Santana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with seven years of clinical experience based in Connecticut. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, career uncertainty, depression, and major life changes. Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Michelle helps clients who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected from themselves. She describes her style as supportive, honest, and collaborative. Her work blends practical steps with deeper reflection so people can make gradual, realistic changes.
Her approach combines evidence-based therapeutic techniques with reflective methods. That can include looking at past experiences, inner child work, and somatic - mind-body - practices. When clients are ready, she introduces solution-focused strategies to identify clear actions and small goals.
Michelle pays attention to cultural identity and family dynamics. As a first-generation professional, she brings awareness of multicultural concerns to conversations about relationships and life choices. She also addresses topics like abandonment, attachment issues, family of origin concerns, and blended family stress.
Her additional focus areas include body image, caregiver stress, control issues, dependent personality traits, feelings of emptiness, guilt and shame, impulsivity, loneliness, jealousy, and questions about life purpose. Work is paced to what each person can manage, with practical steps and reflective exploration combined over time.
How evidence-based methods translate to online work
Michelle integrates evidence-based techniques alongside reflective, mind-body methods. Evidence-based techniques focus on identifying patterns, practicing new skills, and setting small behavioral goals; these are useful for anxiety, low mood, and work or life transitions. Somatic approaches pay attention to bodily signals and simple grounding practices to help regulate emotion during stress.She treats the choice of approach as collaborative. During initial sessions she and the client will review needs, goals, and preferences and then try methods that fit. That process may involve adjusting the balance between reflective exploration and solution-focused steps over time.
If you plan to meet online, confirm the session formats available before booking since session options are not specified here. Many people find virtual sessions helpful for fitting therapy into a workday, avoiding travel time, and keeping appointments consistent. Phone or video options can make shorter check-ins easier, reduce commute time, or help when bandwidth is limited. Licensed professionals aim to match the method and schedule to practical life demands rather than promise a particular outcome.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
7+ years
Listed in
Connecticut, New Jersey
Languages
English, Spanish
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, self-esteem, career questions, depression, and coping with life changes, plus related issues like attachment and family of origin concerns.
How would she approach someone feeling stuck?
Her style is supportive and collaborative. She combines reflective work with practical, solution-focused steps to help people make manageable changes.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has seven years of experience as a clinician working with adults and teens on mood, relationship, and adjustment concerns.
What credentials and locations are listed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) credentialed in New Jersey and Connecticut and practices from Connecticut.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are session payments handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to begin working together?
Click the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.