Michelle Zaragoza, LCSW

Michelle Zaragoza is a California-based mental health clinician with nine years of professional counseling experience and the LCSW credential - Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She focuses on helping adults navigate stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and career challenges, drawing on practical, goal-oriented methods to support measurable progress.

She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused Therapy, brief approaches grounded in positive psychology that emphasize building solutions and skills rather than lingering on problems. Her work is collaborative and engaging - she partners with clients to set short-term and long-term goals, offering direct and thoughtful feedback to keep progress on track.

Michelle aims to empower clients to develop practical strategies for personal growth and create meaningful change in their lives. She concentrates on helping individuals build the skills needed to manage everyday stressors, improve relationships, and address career-related concerns while attending to family of origin issues, guilt and shame, life purpose, mood concerns, and self-love. Michelle welcomes those ready to take the first steps toward change and provides steady support throughout the process.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify their values and take committed action toward a more meaningful life while learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings. It is useful for stress, anxiety, and life changes because it emphasizes living in line with personal values rather than getting stuck on unwanted internal experiences.

Client-Centered Therapy centers the relationship and the client's own perspective, offering empathic listening and support that foster self-exploration and personal growth. This approach can be especially helpful for improving self-worth, navigating relationships, and finding direction during transitions.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey - Michelle works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors care over time, adjusting interventions as progress and priorities evolve.

Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, allowing clients to engage in therapy from locations that fit their lives and schedules. Licensed professionals and therapists can use these formats to maintain continuity of care, accommodate busy routines, and provide consistent support between sessions.