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MD Portrait of Michelle DeFino

Michelle DeFino

Practical, skills-based support for life’s challenges

LCSW New York

Experience
3 years in practice
Focus areas
Addictions, Grief, Anger
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Michelle

About Michelle

Michelle DeFino is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New York who focuses on helping people navigate addictions, mood challenges, and major life transitions.

Background and approach

She works with clients facing depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, grief, trauma and abuse, anger, stress, and relationship concerns, and also addresses parenting and self-esteem difficulties. Her practice includes attention to aging and geriatric issues, caregiver stress, codependency, communication and control problems, impulse-related concerns, and financial or social anxiety issues.

Her clinical work draws on a range of evidence-informed methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), client-centered techniques, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness practices, and motivational interviewing. Michelle blends these approaches to help clients identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, build coping skills, and increase emotional regulation and present-moment awareness.

With three years of documented experience in the current role, she aims to meet each person where they are and tailor therapeutic tasks to individual goals. Sessions are offered through multiple remote formats including video, phone, live chat, and text-based messaging, and she communicates in English.

Michelle holds licensure in both New Jersey and New York under the registrations NJ LCSW 44SC05618700 and NY LCSW 090260-01.

Integrating practical therapies into online care

Michelle commonly draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy alongside client-centered practices. CBT focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms and improve day-to-day functioning, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. DBT emphasizes building skills in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness to manage intense emotions and impulsivity. Client-centered therapy prioritizes the person’s own perspective and fosters a collaborative, empathetic therapeutic relationship that supports personal insight and growth.

Choosing the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process, and the therapist works collaboratively with each client to determine which methods align with their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they review what is and isn’t helpful and adjust techniques over time to better match progress and life circumstances.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers practical flexibility for scheduling and consistent engagement. These formats allow clients to access licensed professionals from home or other convenient locations, accommodate varied communication styles, and make it easier to maintain momentum between sessions through messaging when needed.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems can Michelle help with?
She works with issues such as addictions, grief, anger, depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, bipolar disorder, stress, relationship concerns, parenting challenges, and self-esteem matters.
What therapeutic approaches does she use?
The practice incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, client-centered methods, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to address thinking patterns, emotional regulation, and behavior change.
What is her clinical background?
Michelle has three years of documented experience in her current clinical role and has worked with a range of mental health and substance-related concerns.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is based in New York and holds licensure as an LCSW with registrations NJ LCSW 44SC05618700 and NY LCSW 090260-01.
Does she offer services in languages other than English?
Sessions are provided in English; she is not listed as offering other languages and is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Therapy is available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions are delivered through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

AddictionsGriefAnger managementDepressionCoping with life changes

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseParenting issuesSelf esteemBipolar disorder

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterImpulsivityMoney and financial issuesSocial anxiety and phobia

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

3+ years

Licensed

New Jersey, New York

Languages

English