Michelle Clisby , LCSW

Michelle Clisby, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), is a California-based therapist with 15 years of professional experience who focuses on helping people navigate relationship challenges, family conflicts, motivation and confidence concerns, and depression. She creates an atmosphere where clients can speak openly about their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgment, and she supports them as they take the courageous first steps toward a more satisfying and balanced life.

Michelle works collaboratively with each person to identify realistic goals and to build practical skills that support lasting change. Her approach emphasizes empathy and respect while encouraging growth, resilience, and clearer communication within families and partnerships. Clients seeking to boost self-esteem, strengthen motivation, repair strained relationships, or manage mood-related difficulties will find a steady, nonjudgmental ally in her practice.

Throughout her career she has aimed to make the therapeutic process accessible and empowering, guiding clients through transitions and toward greater emotional well-being. Michelle’s style blends gentle challenge with practical strategies so clients can build confidence and make meaningful progress on the issues that matter most to them.

Practical Evidence-Based Approaches and Online Care

Michelle uses evidence-based, skills-focused techniques to help clients identify unhelpful patterns and learn practical tools for daily living. One common focus is skills-based cognitive and behavioral strategies that help people recognize and shift disruptive thoughts and behaviors, which can be useful for managing mood, stress, anxiety, and motivation challenges. Another emphasis is relational and trauma-informed work that concentrates on communication, boundary-setting, and processing difficult experiences to improve family dynamics, intimacy, and recovery from past harms.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Michelle works with each person to understand their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques over time so the plan fits the client’s life. Together they evaluate what works and adjust the focus as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, access support from home, and maintain continuity of care during life transitions, while still working with licensed professionals who tailor treatment to each client’s concerns.