Michelle Lesesne-De Santis, LCSW

Michelle Lesesne-De Santis is a licensed clinical social worker in Florida. She brings 25 years of experience helping people build motivation, self-esteem, and confidence. Michelle focuses on practical steps that fit each person's life and goals.

She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with acceptance and mindfulness-based ideas to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. Sessions are conversational and aimed at finding small, doable changes. She adapts the pace and focus to what each person needs most.

Michelle also helps with career questions, coping with major life changes, and professional coaching for executives and professionals. She works with concerns like compassion fatigue, body image, cancer-related stress, and isolation. Her approach includes narrative and client-centered methods to explore values and life purpose.

People often come for help with communication problems, forgiveness, self-love, midlife transitions, or recovery after a traumatic brain injury. Michelle listens for each person's priorities and builds goals together. Her style is respectful, sensitive, and compassionate.

Starting therapy with her begins with a conversation about what matters to the client. From there she and the client set clear, achievable steps. The work focuses on practical change and on strengthening resilience for the challenges ahead.

Flexible approaches for online therapy and meaningful change

Michelle often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. CBT focuses on practical tools you can use between sessions to change patterns that hold you back.

She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and take committed action even when difficult feelings are present. ACT can be helpful for navigating life transitions, career choices, and stress from caregiving or illness.

Finding the right fit is a collaborative process. The therapist and client explore which approaches match the client’s goals and preferences, then adjust techniques as progress is made. Clients help shape the plan and the pace of work.

Online therapy with Michelle is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation and screen sharing for worksheets. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or for shorter check-ins. Live chat and text messaging offer ongoing touchpoints between sessions for reflections and quick coaching notes. These options make it easier to schedule therapy around work, caregiving, and busy days while keeping therapy practical and goal focused.