Michelle Upton, LICSW
Calm, practical support for life’s hard moments
Details
| Name | Michelle Upton |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LICSW |
| Based in | Massachusetts |
| Licensed in | Massachusetts |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 8 |
About Michelle
Michelle Upton is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and addiction. She also supports those dealing with relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting strain, career questions, and burnout like compassion fatigue. Her tone is calm and practical, and she aims to make hard conversations easier to begin.
Michelle uses a mix of approaches rather than one fixed method. She listens first to understand what feels most urgent.
Background and approach
Then she works with each person to pick tools that fit their situation and goals. Sessions are collaborative and paced to what the person can manage. Her usual toolkit includes Narrative Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, cognitive behavioral techniques, and elements of dialectical behavior strategies.
She draws on these methods to help people reframe unhelpful stories, spot patterns, and build small habits that change daily life. She also brings existential ideas when people face big questions about meaning and purpose. Michelle has eight years of clinical experience in Massachusetts and holds an MA and a LICSW.
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to meet different needs. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time and vary in cost by location and therapist availability. Her style is steady, kind, and direct.
New clients can start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a session based on listed availability.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Grief among the things Michelle works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Coping with life changes
- Addictions
- Family conflicts
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Divorce and separation
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Michelle among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Michelle among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Michelle among the ways she works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Michelle among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness 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 Practical Therapies Work Online
Michelle often draws on Narrative Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy, plus cognitive behavioral strategies. Narrative Therapy helps people look at the stories they tell about themselves and change unhelpful narratives that limit choices. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person's experience and uses empathy and listening to help them find their own solutions. Cognitive behavioral techniques offer concrete steps to change thoughts and habits that keep problems stuck.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals and try methods together to see what fits. That decision is collaborative and can shift over time as needs change.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for deeper conversations when seeing facial cues matters. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in fits better. Live chat and text messaging are handy for ongoing coaching, brief updates, or when someone prefers writing to speaking. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and keep consistent progress.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Michelle help with?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addictions, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, career concerns, and compassion fatigue among other life challenges.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is calm, direct, and collaborative. She listens first and then uses practical tools chosen with each person.
What experience does she bring?
She has eight years of clinical experience working with adults on life transitions, health-related stress, and long-term behavior changes.
What are her credentials and location?
She holds an MA and is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) practicing in Massachusetts.
Which languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different schedules and needs.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's listed 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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