Michelle Castellani, LCSW

Michelle Castellani is an MSW, a Master of Social Work, and an LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker who has built much of her professional life in healthcare settings. Her early work in medical environments sharpened her crisis intervention skills and gave her practical experience helping people adjust to new illnesses and the many changes that can accompany them.

She has maintained a private practice since 2007, working primarily with people experiencing anxiety disorders - including panic attacks, social anxiety, and phobias - as well as depression and bipolar disorder. Her caseload has also included eating disorders, relationship struggles, anger, obsessive-compulsive concerns, and couples counseling, reflecting a broad experience with mood, behavioral, and interpersonal challenges.

Michelle has completed formal training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, gaining tools in mindfulness and meditation that she offers when appropriate. She commonly integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which helps clients see how thoughts influence feelings and behaviors, with a Strengths Perspective that identifies and builds on each person’s existing abilities. Her approach is flexible and often combines these elements to fit a client’s needs.

Central to her work is careful listening and clear assessment of the problem, since effective solutions begin with an accurate understanding of what is happening. She believes people can embrace change when they are ready and finds professional fulfillment in supporting clients through that process.

Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Care

Michelle Castellani commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns that contribute to anxiety, depression, and other mood concerns. CBT focuses on the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and provides practical strategies for managing symptoms.

She also incorporates Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction techniques, teaching simple meditation and present-moment awareness practices that can reduce stress and improve coping with life changes or chronic health-related adjustment. Additionally, a Strengths Perspective is used to highlight and build on each person’s existing resources, helping clients apply skills they already possess to current challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Michelle works collaboratively with clients to determine which combination of methods best fits their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy options - including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging - make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. These formats offer flexibility in scheduling, allow continuity of care when in-person visits are difficult, and expand access to licensed professionals for people in different locations or with varying mobility and time constraints.