- CBT methods
- DBT skills
- Somatic tools
About Michelle
Michelle Varady is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 10 years of experience practicing in California. She focuses on stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, and related concerns such as self-esteem and depression. Michelle also works with sleep problems, bipolar issues, ADHD, and phobias.
She uses practical tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Somatic Therapy to help people manage symptoms day to day. Sessions include clear strategies for coping, breathing and body awareness, and ways to change patterns that keep problems stuck. Michelle draws on Solution-Focused methods to set short-term goals and track progress between meetings.
Michelle prefers a straightforward style in sessions. She talks through specific problems and helps people try small experiments in how they respond to stress and social situations. She can guide someone who feels overwhelmed by panic, who avoids social settings, or who struggles with impulsivity and substance use.
Her background as an LCSW means she blends clinical knowledge with practical planning. She has worked on issues that often come together, such as co-morbidity of mood and substance concerns, codependency, and communication problems. Clients get a mix of skills training and focused talk work tailored to the issue at hand.
To start, Michelle asks people to describe their main difficulty and recent patterns. From there she helps set concrete steps so progress can be noticed and adjusted over time. Sessions are offered in English and international clients are accepted.
How Michelle adapts therapeutic approaches for online work
Michelle commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Somatic Therapy in sessions. CBT looks at thoughts and behaviors and offers clear steps to test and change unhelpful patterns, which can help with panic, social anxiety, and low mood. Somatic Therapy focuses on bodily signals and simple movement or breathing practices to reduce physical arousal and improve sleep or panic symptoms.She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills for emotion regulation and distress tolerance, teaching specific techniques to manage impulses and intense feelings. These approaches are presented as tools to try together, with the therapist and client deciding which methods fit the problem and preference.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michelle collaborates with each person to pick techniques that match their goals and daily life. She will check in and adjust the mix of skills, short-term goals, and body-based practices as progress is tracked.
The biography does not list particular session formats, so confirm the current online options before booking. Many people find online sessions help fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and make it easier to practice skills between meetings. Talk with Michelle about how sessions can be arranged to suit your schedule and the kinds of exercises you want to try.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Listed in
Nevada, California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she focus on?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, depression, sleep problems, bipolar concerns, ADHD, and phobias.
What is her therapy style like?
She uses clear, practical work that combines skill teaching and focused talk. Sessions include behavior-oriented exercises and body-awareness techniques.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Michelle has practiced for 10 years as a clinician working with mood, trauma, and substance-related concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LCSW with licensure in California and works from California.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are accepted.
What formats are used for sessions?
The original biography does not list session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin the process?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.