Michelle Santana

Michelle Santana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who helps teens and adults manage anxiety, depression, stress, and major life changes. She speaks English and Spanish and aims to make therapy feel practical and understandable for people who are overwhelmed or stuck.

She starts by creating a calm space to slow things down and notice what is getting in the way. Sessions focus on understanding patterns, how past experiences shape the present, and what small changes could make daily life easier. Michelle balances reflective work with hands-on steps so progress feels real and doable.

Her work blends evidence-based therapeutic techniques with mind-body approaches and exploration of early experiences. That can include inner child work and somatic methods to help people reconnect with their bodies and emotions. When appropriate, she uses a solution-focused stance to identify clear next steps and practical coping tools.

Michelle pays attention to cultural identity and family dynamics, drawing on her experience as a first-generation professional to understand how culture shapes stress and expectations. She aims to be down-to-earth and nonjudgmental while also offering gentle challenges that support growth.

People who come to Michelle often want relief from persistent patterns, clearer direction in their lives, or better ways to manage intense emotions. She partners with each person to set realistic goals and to build skills that fit their daily routines.

How therapeutic methods translate to online work

Michelle uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques alongside mind-body work and reflective exploration. Evidence-based approaches focus on skills and strategies that help manage anxiety and depression by changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Mind-body or somatic methods help people notice bodily signals tied to emotion and learn simple ways to calm or regulate those responses. Reflective exploration and inner child work invite gentle review of past experiences to spot patterns that keep recurring.

Finding the right mix is part of the process. The therapist collaborates with each person to test approaches, adjust methods, and pick tools that fit the person's goals and comfort level. That collaborative tone helps tailor sessions to be more practical and relevant to daily life.

Confirm current session options before booking, as specific formats are not listed here. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, lower travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Some people find video helpful for face-to-face interaction, while phone sessions can work better when bandwidth is limited or a quicker conversation is needed. Discuss format preferences during intake so sessions match your schedule and needs.