Michelle Upton , LICSW

Michelle Upton is a licensed social worker with eight years of experience supporting individuals and families through significant life transitions. As an LICSW - Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker - she has worked at the individual level addressing changes in physical and mental health, at the relationship level around communication and role expectations, and at the systemic level coordinating with medical teams and family caregivers. She approaches each referral with an awareness of the gravity of the moment and a commitment to offering steadiness and practical support.

Michelle draws from a blend of therapeutic methods and collaborates with each person to determine which approaches best meet their needs, often combining techniques when one approach alone is not enough. Those she has worked with commonly note her calming presence, approachable kindness, and practical expertise in helping clients move toward their goals. She values helping clients find balance between life’s joys and its challenges and seeks to work alongside them to build coping skills, strengthen relationships, and navigate complex transitions.

Approaches and Online Support for Life Transitions

Michelle often uses client-centered therapy to create a respectful, collaborative environment where the person’s goals and values guide the work. This approach focuses on listening, empathy, and building a strong therapeutic relationship to address concerns like relationship struggles, self-esteem, and navigating role changes.

Dialetical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, offers practical skills for managing strong emotions, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and tolerating distress. It can be especially helpful for people dealing with high stress, intense mood swings, or patterns of conflict that affect relationships and daily functioning.

Mindfulness therapy teaches present-moment awareness and gentle acceptance of thoughts and feelings, which can reduce rumination, support coping with anxiety or grief, and improve emotional regulation. Michelle combines these methods as needed and works collaboratively with each person to identify the best fit based on their needs, goals, and preferences. Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process, and she partners with clients to adjust techniques over time so care feels relevant and useful.

Online sessions are offered by licensed professionals in multiple formats - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - to increase flexibility and access. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life changes, and choose the mode of communication that feels most comfortable.