Michelle Lesesne-De Santis, LCSW

Florida | Online sessions in Florida | English | Book with Michelle »

Compassionate Narrative-informed therapy for life transitions

Details

Name	Michelle Lesesne-De Santis
Credentials	LCSW
Based in	Florida
Licensed in	Florida
Session format	Online
Languages	English
Years in practice	25

About Michelle

Michelle Lesesne-De Santis is a licensed clinical social worker in Florida with 25 years of experience. She focuses on motivation, self-esteem, career challenges, and coping with life changes. Michelle offers practical support and coaching to help clients move toward a more fulfilling life.

She uses a Narrative approach to help people reframe the stories they tell themselves. That work often connects with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Client-Centered methods to clarify values and build small, doable steps.

Background and approach

Sessions are conversational and focused on what matters to the client right now. Michelle often helps people facing compassion fatigue and career stress. She also supports individuals dealing with body image concerns, cancer-related adjustment, communication problems, recovery from traumatic brain injury, and midlife transitions.

The emphasis is on finding usable strategies rather than abstract theory. Her style is respectful and straightforward. She listens first, then tailors the conversation and plan to fit each person’s needs.

Many people find this approach helpful when they want clear options and steady support. Michelle blends mindfulness and cognitive behavioral ideas when they fit the client’s goals. Those tools can help with grounding, breaking unhelpful patterns, and building confidence over time.

She aims to make therapy a collaborative process that feels manageable week to week.

What this therapist works with

Her listing names Self esteem, Career difficulties, Coping with life changes among the things Michelle works with, alongside the areas below.

Self esteem
Career difficulties
Coping with life changes
Coaching
Compassion fatigue
Body image
Cancer
Communication problems
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Forgiveness
Isolation / loneliness
Life purpose
Midlife crisis
Self-love
Traumatic brain injury
Women's issues

Approaches listed

Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Michelle among the ways she works.
Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Michelle among the ways she works.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Michelle among the ways she works.
Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Michelle among the ways she works.
Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Michelle among the ways she works.
Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Michelle among the ways she works.
Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Michelle directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.

Narrative Therapy in this listing

Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.

If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Michelle directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.

Online session options

How Narrative and ACT translate to online therapy

Michelle uses Narrative Therapy to help clients examine and rewrite the stories that shape their choices. Online sessions make it straightforward to bring life examples and real-time events into those conversations. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people name their values and take small committed steps toward them, which works well in brief exercises during video or text exchanges.

She also uses Client-Centered Therapy principles, offering a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the client sets the pace. Together they decide which approaches feel most useful, and the plan can shift as goals evolve. Figuring out the right mix is a collaborative process that begins in the first few sessions.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is good for deeper conversations and shared exercises, while phone sessions use less bandwidth and can fit during a work break. Live chat and text messaging work well for short check-ins, coaching moments, or when typing through a problem feels easier. These options make it simpler to keep therapy consistent, even with a busy schedule.

Common questions about this listing

What kinds of problems does Michelle help with?

She works with self-esteem, career concerns, coping with life changes, coaching, and compassion fatigue. Additional areas include body image, cancer adjustment, communication problems, and isolation.

What is Michelle's therapy style like?

Her style is conversational and client-centered, often using Narrative ideas to reframe stories people tell themselves. Therapy focuses on practical steps and values-guided actions.

How much experience does she have?

Michelle brings 25 years of professional experience to her work. That experience spans coaching, clinical practice, and helping people manage career and life transitions.

What credentials and location are listed?

She holds a Florida LCSW, which stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and she practices in Florida.

In which languages are sessions offered?

Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.

What session formats are available?

Michelle provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options allow different ways to connect depending on what fits a person’s routine.

How are costs handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Specific rates depend on the plan chosen.

How do I begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. After that you can schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Contacting this therapist

Sessions with Michelle are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Michelle where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.

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