- Anxiety and mood support
- Mindfulness and CBT
- Focusing on strengths
About Michelle
Michelle Castellani is a licensed clinical social worker with more than a decade of clinical experience. She has worked extensively in healthcare settings and in private practice since 2007. Michelle draws on her background to help people navigate anxiety, mood concerns, and stresses that come with major life changes.
Her work often focuses on common problems like panic attacks, social anxiety, depression and bipolar mood concerns, eating difficulties, and sleep problems. She also addresses relationship strain, intimacy issues, anger, grief, addictions, and parenting stress. Michelle aims to make therapy practical and easy to follow for busy people.
Michelle blends straightforward techniques in sessions. She uses cognitive behavioral therapy to look at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. She also brings mindfulness practices learned in a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course to help calm intense moments when clients want that option.
Another part of her approach is a strengths perspective. She helps people notice skills they already have and use those skills to work through current problems. Sessions often involve identifying small, doable steps people can try between meetings.
Michelle emphasizes listening first so the real problem becomes clear. She works with each person to decide which tools fit best and adjusts the plan as progress is made. Her goal is to help people move toward change at a pace they can handle.
Evidence-based approaches and how they translate online
Michelle incorporates cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness practices into her clinical work. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce anxiety and improve mood through concrete exercises and step-by-step homework. Mindfulness practices learned in a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course teach simple attention and breathing exercises that help manage intense emotions and improve sleep and stress regulation.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will listen to your concerns and try different methods to see what fits best. Together you and the therapist will adjust strategies based on what helps you make steady, manageable progress.
Session format options were not specified in the biography, so confirm current session options before booking. Many people find online therapy helpful for fitting sessions into busy schedules, doing focused skill practice between appointments, and getting consistent check-ins without long commutes. Online work can make it easier to follow step-by-step CBT exercises and to practice short mindfulness techniques between sessions, helping therapy tasks blend into everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Experience
12+ years
Listed in
New Jersey
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Michelle help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, mood concerns like depression and bipolar, eating difficulties, sleep problems, relationship and intimacy issues, anger, grief, addictions, LGBT concerns, parenting stress, and career-related strain.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Sessions are practical and collaborative. She listens first, uses cognitive behavioral ideas and mindfulness tools when helpful, and focuses on building a person’s existing strengths.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 12 years of clinical experience, including work in healthcare settings and private practice since 2007.
What credentials and region apply to her practice?
She holds an LCSW, which is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and practices in New Jersey.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients schedule with her?
International clients are not currently accepted; sessions are provided to clients in locations that align with her New Jersey practice.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to begin therapy?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.