Michelle Upton, LICSW

Michelle Upton, LICSW, helps people who are facing big life stresses. She works with adults dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, relationship struggles, addictions, and the strain of caregiving. Michelle also supports people coping with career shifts, intimacy concerns, parenting stress, and the challenges that come with aging or medical issues.

Michelle draws on eight years of practice across individual and family contexts. She meets each person where they are and focuses on what matters now. Sessions tend to be practical and conversational. She aims to make the room feel calm and straightforward so people can talk honestly about hard things.

Her approach is flexible and often combines methods to fit the individual. Michelle uses client-centered listening to follow the client’s lead, cognitive behavioral ideas to identify unhelpful thinking patterns, and dialectical behavior tools for emotion regulation. She also integrates mindfulness and narrative techniques when they help a person reframe a difficult story.

Michelle has an MA and holds the LICSW credential, which she uses while practicing in Massachusetts. She has worked with people affected by cancer, caregiving stress, first responder strains, and co-morbid health and mental health concerns. Her style is steady and kind, aimed at helping people build coping skills and clearer communication.

People who choose Michelle usually want a practical, compassionate approach that can adapt as problems change. To begin, she guides clients through simple steps to match goals with methods and create a plan that fits daily life.

Approaches that translate well to online work

Michelle commonly uses client-centered methods that prioritize the person’s goals and pace. That approach focuses on attentive listening and helping the client name what matters most, which often works well in a conversational online session.

She also uses cognitive behavioral techniques to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT offers clear exercises and home practice that a client can try between sessions, making it practical for remote work. Dialectical behavior therapy elements are used for emotion regulation and distress tolerance, giving people step-by-step skills to manage intense moments.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Michelle collaborates with each person to choose methods based on their needs, goals, and preferences. She may blend approaches and adjust plans as goals change so therapy stays relevant and practical.

Confirm the current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online sessions can help fit therapy into a busy life by removing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins around work, and supporting consistent follow-up after medical appointments. Licensed professionals can steer sessions toward skills practice, problem-solving, and emotional support in ways that aim to match a client’s everyday routines.