Michelle Upton, LICSW

Michelle Upton is a licensed independent clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. She supports people facing relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting strain, grief, addiction issues, career uncertainty, and compassion fatigue. Michelle lists Cognitive Behavioral Therapy among her approaches and grounds work in practical steps that people can use between sessions.

Michelle frames sessions around what matters to each person. She listens first, then helps set clear, manageable goals. Treatment often includes skill-building, thought work, and ways to handle strong emotions. Sessions are straightforward and focused on daily problem solving as well as self-understanding.

Her approach draws from client-centered therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness, and existential ideas. That mix lets Michelle address how people think, how they act, and what gives life meaning. She adapts methods to the concern at hand rather than sticking to one fixed method.

Michelle brings eight years of clinical experience in Massachusetts to her work as an MA LICSW. She has supported people coping with caregiver stress, cancer-related concerns, aging and geriatric issues, and families dealing with divorce or addiction. Language of service is English.

People who choose Michelle can expect a collaborative, calm presence and practical tools they can use right away. She will help identify next steps, whether the focus is coping skills, communication, or rebuilding routine after a loss.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Michelle commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, which can reduce anxiety and improve daily coping. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building a supportive relationship so people can explore goals and values at their own pace. Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers practical emotion-regulation and distress-tolerance skills for managing intense feelings and improving communication.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences, and together they will test methods to see what fits. Plans are adjusted over time so techniques feel relevant and useful for real life challenges.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Video calls suit deeper conversation and skill practice, phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited, live chat and messaging enable quick check-ins or written reflection, and texting supports brief daily coaching. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent while juggling work, caregiving, or treatment schedules.