Nendler "Dee" Michel , LCSW

Nendler "Dee" Michel is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New York with 24 years of experience helping people navigate relationships, addiction, parenting, career concerns, and life transitions. He practices with a relaxed, conversational style that centers on the whole person, building understanding before offering guidance. He blends client-centered listening with motivational interviewing and practical coaching techniques to encourage steady, sustainable growth.

Dee incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients reframe unhelpful thinking patterns and Mindfulness practices such as breathing and meditation to support emotional regulation and coping. His work also draws on life coaching principles and years of experience in nutrition, fitness, and wellness to address the connections between physical habits and overall wellbeing. He emphasizes clarity, realistic goals, and incremental change as paths to greater confidence and resilience.

He has substantial experience supporting people affected by the justice system and working within the child welfare field, which informs his approach to trauma, neglect, and abuse recovery. He also assists clients facing anxiety, depression, substance use, grief, intimacy and attachment concerns, family conflicts, and career challenges. Throughout his practice, he aims to increase clients' self-understanding while offering practical strategies to help them move toward the life they want.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Client-centered therapy focuses on understanding each person from their own perspective, offering empathetic listening and collaboration so clients feel heard and empowered to set their own goals. This approach is helpful for issues like relationship challenges, self-esteem, and navigating family dynamics.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors by practicing new ways of thinking and acting. It is often effective for anxiety, depression, stress, and coping with life changes. Mindfulness therapy builds present-moment awareness through simple breathing and grounding practices that support emotional regulation and reduce reactivity in everyday situations.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. The therapist works collaboratively with each person to determine which strategies fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds. Licensed professionals tailor sessions so clients gain practical tools and insight that match their circumstances.

Online therapy offers flexibility to engage by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit care into busy schedules and to continue work from different locations. These options allow consistent, accessible support while preserving the therapeutic relationship and the ability to use interventions like CBT exercises and mindfulness practices during sessions.