Michelle DeFino , LCSW

Michelle DeFino is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in New York who supports people facing addiction, grief, mood disorders, and relationship and caregiving challenges. With three years of professional practice, she draws on experience working with substance use and co-occurring conditions as well as clients navigating depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, trauma, and life transitions.

She uses a blend of evidence-informed approaches to meet each person where they are, including motivational interviewing to strengthen motivation for change, cognitive behavioral techniques to identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behaviors, and mindfulness practices to improve focus and emotional regulation. Michelle also integrates solution-focused ideas to help clients set practical goals and move toward meaningful change.

Michelle approaches therapy with a collaborative, client-centered stance, working alongside clients to tailor interventions to their needs and priorities. She is comfortable addressing concerns related to parenting, caregiving stress, anger, self-esteem, and social anxiety, and she considers multiple ways of working together while expressing a preference for video sessions so that she and clients can connect visually. As a licensed social worker, she aims to help clients build coping strategies, strengthen relationships, and reclaim a sense of balance in daily life.

Evidence-Based Approaches for Online Therapeutic Support

Michelle DeFino incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help clients identify patterns of thinking and behavior that contribute to distress and to develop practical skills for managing symptoms like anxiety and depression. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) offers tools for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improved interpersonal effectiveness, which can be especially helpful for clients struggling with intense emotions or impulsivity. Motivational interviewing focuses on building a client’s own motivation for change and is frequently used to support people working through substance use and other behavior changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Michelle works collaboratively with each person to tailor methods to their goals, preferences, and life circumstances. She combines approaches as needed and checks in regularly to adjust the plan so it fits the client’s needs.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers flexibility for people balancing work, caregiving, or mobility concerns. These options make it easier to maintain consistency in care, attend sessions from different locations, and choose the communication style that feels most comfortable while working toward meaningful progress.