- CBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
- Narrative work
About Michelle
Michelle Upton is an LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker) with eight years of clinical experience in Massachusetts. She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, grief, low self-esteem, life changes, addictions, and issues around intimacy and parenting. She also lists work with guilt and shame among her focuses.
Michelle takes a practical approach in sessions. She listens first, then works with each person to pick tools that fit their situation. She often combines conversation, skills practice, and reflective questions to help people notice patterns and try different ways of responding.
Her background includes a variety of therapeutic models. Michelle uses client-centered techniques to keep the person’s priorities central. She draws on cognitive behavioral tools to identify unhelpful thought patterns and teach concrete skills for coping. She also uses dialectical behavior strategies and mindfulness practices to build emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
Sessions tend to be collaborative and straightforward. Michelle helps people name what feels hardest about guilt or shame, traces how it affects daily choices, and works on small, doable steps to change those patterns. She can also address related concerns such as caregiver stress, chronic illness impacts, career strain, or addiction problems.
People who come to her for grief, relationship repair, or career and parenting questions can expect a pacing that balances reflection with practical work. Her practice is based in Massachusetts and sessions are offered in English.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on keeping the person's goals and experience central. The therapist listens carefully and follows what the client says matters most, which helps when sorting through feelings of guilt or shame.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy involves identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with practical exercises. It is useful for anxiety, low mood, and patterns that feed guilt by changing how someone thinks and acts.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy adds skills for managing intense emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness. These skills can help when strong shame or relationship conflict makes it hard to cope.
Michelle treats finding the right approach as a collaborative step. She will work with each person to try different methods and adjust based on what feels useful. That process includes discussing goals, trying out skills between sessions, and reviewing what helps most.
The therapist’s biography did not list specific online session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into daily life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Licensed professionals can use different approaches effectively in virtual sessions, and practical adjustments are made to fit a person’s routine and needs.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
Massachusetts
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, self-esteem, addiction, caregiver strain, and guilt and shame.
How does she approach guilt and shame?
She helps people name where guilt or shame shows up and uses conversation plus practical skills to change unhelpful patterns.
What is her clinical background?
She has eight years of experience using a mix of approaches including client-centered work, CBT, DBT, mindfulness, and narrative therapy.
What credential and location does she hold?
She is an MA LICSW based in Massachusetts.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography did not list specific session formats; confirm current session options before booking.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.