Michelle DeFino, LCSW

Michelle DeFino is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), meaning she has advanced clinical training in social work and is authorized to provide therapeutic care. Based in New York, she focuses on helping people navigate addictions, mood disorders, and the many stresses that come with life changes and relationships. With three years of clinical experience, she has worked extensively with individuals facing substance use and co-occurring mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trauma, and related challenges.

Michelle draws on a mix of therapeutic methods tailored to each person, including client-centered techniques, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral strategies, and mindfulness practices. She uses these approaches to help clients identify unhelpful patterns of thinking and behavior, build practical coping skills, and clarify personal goals. Sessions often combine skill-building with compassionate exploration of values and priorities so clients can improve emotional regulation, communication, and day-to-day functioning.

Michelle often prefers video sessions because visual connection can accelerate rapport and collaborative work, though she is open to other formats when appropriate. She approaches each person with respect and patience, working collaboratively to shape a treatment plan that aligns with individual needs and goals and supports steady progress toward a more balanced life.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Michelle DeFino works from approaches that emphasize collaboration and practical skill-building. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person's experience and priorities, offering a supportive space where the therapist follows the client's lead and helps them clarify goals and values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches concrete techniques to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and mood regulation. Mindfulness Therapy trains attention and present-moment awareness, helping people reduce reactivity, improve focus, and cope with strong emotions.

Finding the right mix of methods is part of the therapeutic process. Michelle partners with each person to assess needs, preferences, and goals, and she adjusts techniques over time so the treatment fits the individual and their circumstances.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and access care from home or work. Michelle uses the available formats to help clients stay engaged with therapy in ways that suit their routines and support steady progress.