Michelle DeFino, LCSW

Michelle DeFino is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and challenges with addiction. She practices in New York and draws on conversational, practical work to help clients take small steps forward. Her approach is direct and focused on real-life changes people can try between sessions.

With three years listed experience as an LCSW, Michelle uses a mix of methods to meet each person's needs. She leans on client-centered work to shape sessions around what matters to the individual. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify unhelpful thoughts and change behaviors. Motivational interviewing supports people who feel stuck or unsure about change.

Michelle also incorporates mindfulness and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to help people manage strong emotions and build calmer responses. Sessions emphasize skill-building, short-term goals, and practical tools for day-to-day life. She supports people coping with relationship strain, parenting stress, self-esteem challenges, trauma and abuse, bipolar mood concerns, and issues tied to aging and caregiver stress.

Clients can expect a straightforward, respectful tone and an emphasis on collaboration. Michelle prefers video so people can get to know each other more easily, but readers should confirm current session formats before booking. She works in English and practices in New York.

Her work aims to make therapy useful and manageable. Michelle focuses on what will help each person move forward, one step at a time.

How Michelle’s approaches translate to online therapy

Michelle often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot thought patterns that get in the way and practice new behaviors. CBT is practical and works well for anxiety, depression, and stress by breaking big problems into small, manageable steps.

She also uses Motivational Interviewing to support people who feel uncertain about change. That approach focuses on the person’s own goals and helps strengthen motivation without pressure. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills and mindfulness practices are used to manage intense emotions and build steady coping tools.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Michelle will discuss goals and preferences, try approaches that fit, and adjust based on what helps most. The plan evolves with input from the person in treatment so sessions stay relevant and doable.

Session formats should be confirmed before booking since the original biography states a preference for video but does not list all current options. Online work can make it easier to schedule therapy around daily life, reduce travel time, and allow brief check-ins that fit into a busy day. Ask about available session formats when you schedule to find what fits your routine.