Welcome, I’m Michela.
I am a licensed clinical social worker and Los Angeles native who has been practicing psychotherapy since 2015, though this work has long felt like a natural extension of who I am.
Even before becoming a therapist, I was often the person people naturally gravitated toward, someone they could open up to, feel understood by, and have honest conversations with. I’ve always been deeply curious about people, the patterns we develop, the experiences that shape us, and what helps us feel more connected to ourselves and others.
Alongside that curiosity, I’ve long valued growth, self reflection, meaningful conversation, and emotional depth. These qualities, along with my own life experiences, naturally led me toward work that feels both deeply human and meaningful to me. Outside of the therapy room, I’m also a mother, an experience that has furthered my appreciation for the complexity, resilience, and tenderness involved in being human.
What sets me apart?
In a sea of therapists, it can be challenging to find the one who truly resonates with you. To help determine if we're a good fit, here are some distinctive qualities about me and potentially about you that might indicate a strong therapeutic match.
SPECIALTIES
Inner child work. Reparenting. Codependency. Attachment wounds. Social anxiety. Nervous system education and regulation. Complex childhood trauma. EMDR. Shadow work. Neuroplasticity. Burnout. Getting unstuck. People pleasing. Perfectionism. Alignment with your authentic self. Letting go. Building self-compassion and self-esteem. Romanticizing your life. Self-actualization.
INTERESTS
Road trips. Podcasts. Forest bathing. Spontaneity. Learning. thrifting. Coffee shop energy. Ojai. Dinner parties. Growth. Acupuncture. Hot Springs. Herbalism. Washington Square Park. People watching. Tacos. Functional medicine. Farmers markets.
CHALLENGES
Slowing down. Receiving. Indecision. Maps. Motion sickness. The unknown.
Healing unfolds when you go inward and are ready to listen.
MORE ABOUT ME
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Most of my clinical education has been in more acute settings with individuals struggling with severe diagnoses and life circumstances. As a consequence, I have not only learned a lot about myself and my ability to thrive and be adaptive in crisis but also about the human condition and the resiliency we all hold.
One of the first and most impactful examples of this was my time at the National Suicide Prevention hotline where I volunteered as a counselor for two years. This was an intense and profound experience where I garnered many of the skills I still draw upon as a therapist today.
In graduate school, I worked as an individual therapist and as a group therapy facilitator at a clinic in the Bronx, supporting people with dual diagnoses (addiction and mental health) and then at Weill Cornell’s Partial Hospitalization program providing intensive treatment on a multidisciplinary team to adults with severe mental health diagnoses. Both the landscape of New York City and environments where I interned have informed my lens as a social worker and how I ultimately approach relationships with clients.
I completed my hours of clinical training working at a non-profit mental health setting where I provided therapy to a diverse population of adults, transitional-aged youth, and families struggling with multifaceted issues. Here, I frequently faced unique circumstances, further bolstering my ability to be versatile, innovative and feel equipped to handle uncertainty. I have also been afforded the opportunity to engage in more long-term work with clients in private practice settings and have found these relationships to be especially rewarding and impactful.
Through each of these experiences I have acquired more knowledge, expertise and ultimately a better understanding of who I work well with and can support the most effectively.
I have found particular enjoyment helping clients navigate how to manage and/or overcome anxiety, stress, burn out, nervous system dysregulation, unhealthy relationship patterns, existential crisis, and low self-esteem.
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B.A. in Psychology from UC Santa Cruz, honors Society
Master of Social Work from New York University, graduated highest honors
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I have been trained in the following evidenced-based practices:
EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing)
CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)
IPT (Interpersonal Psychotherapy)
Seeking Safety
Suicide prevention and intervention