- CBT techniques
- Mindfulness therapy
- Solution-focused work
About Michelle
Michelle Nguyen is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with five years of clinical experience based in the District of Columbia. She works with people experiencing stress, anxiety, relationship problems, depression, addiction concerns, grief, parenting challenges, and related issues such as attachment or body image struggles.
She has experience in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings and has worked as an investigative social worker for Child Protective Services. She currently works with homeless veterans, which informs how she approaches practical life challenges alongside emotional work.
In sessions she takes a straightforward, person-centered approach. She listens for what matters most to the client and focuses on concrete steps that can be tried between meetings. That can include identifying unhelpful thinking patterns, practicing mindfulness skills, or setting small behavior changes to test what helps.
Michelle draws on several methods depending on the concern. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps when anxious thoughts or avoidance get in the way. Motivational Interviewing can support changes around substance use or other behaviors. Solution-Focused and client-centered techniques help set clear goals and build on a person’s strengths.
She aims to be practical in sessions and to connect clinical ideas to everyday life. People who find social situations hard, feel stuck after a life change, or who want support with relationship or parenting stress may find this approach useful.
Therapeutic approaches and how online sessions can work
Michelle often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy alongside client-centered and solution-focused techniques. CBT involves looking at thoughts and behaviors that keep anxiety or avoidance in place and experimenting with small changes to test what helps. Mindfulness Therapy teaches ways to notice thoughts and bodily reactions without immediate judgment, which can help reduce reactivity to social situations.She approaches therapy collaboratively. That means she will work with each person to decide which methods to try first, based on their goals and what feels manageable. Adjustments are made as needed so sessions fit the client’s pace and priorities.
If you are considering online sessions, confirm the current session formats before booking since options are not specified here. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, and reduce travel time. Some approaches, like CBT skills practice and mindfulness exercises, translate well to remote sessions and can be assigned as short between-session tasks to build familiarity with new habits.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
District of Columbia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family problems, depression, addictions, grief, parenting issues, and related concerns like attachment and body image.
What is her therapy style like?
She uses a person-centered style that focuses on listening and practical steps. Sessions often include skill practice, goal setting, and short experiments to try between meetings.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has five years of clinical experience, including work in inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings and with Child Protective Services.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, DC LICSW, and practices in the District of Columbia.
Does she offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin scheduling a session?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.