Therapist profile
Michelle Clisby, LCSW
LCSW - Relationship and family support
Continue with MichelleAbout
- Relationship concerns
- Parenting strain
- Grief and loss
About Michelle
Michelle Clisby is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in California with 15 years of experience. She helps people facing relationship strain, family stress, low self esteem, depression, and the practical strains of parenting. Michelle also works with issues like anxiety, addiction concerns, grief, and changes in life circumstances.
Michelle focuses on straightforward conversation and practical steps. She aims to create an environment where clients can talk through feelings without judgment. Sessions are conversational and goal-oriented, with attention to daily challenges and decision-making.
Clients often bring worries about communication, trust, or balancing caregiving roles. Michelle helps people sort those worries, break problems down, and try small changes that make daily life easier. She also addresses work and career concerns that overlap with home life and family roles.
For people managing loss, trauma, or long-term stress, Michelle offers regular check-ins and coping strategies. She can help identify patterns that keep painful feelings in place and introduce alternative ways of responding. The focus is on what a person can do this week and next to feel steadier.
Her approach suits adults looking for practical support with family and relationship pressures. To begin, prospective clients complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule an initial session to talk about goals and next steps.
How sessions work
How therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Michelle uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical change. One common approach is problem-focused work that identifies specific behavior patterns and replaces them with new routines; this can help with anxiety, parenting stress, and day-to-day depression. Another approach is supportive talk that helps process grief, trauma, and relationship strain through guided reflection and paced emotional processing.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to figure out which techniques best match a client's situation, goals, and preferences. That may mean trying a focused skill for a few sessions or shifting to longer exploration of recurring problems based on what helps most.
Confirm current session options before scheduling, as formats are not listed here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Many people find it simpler to keep regular appointments this way while working on communication, parenting challenges, or coping with major life changes.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
15+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of family concerns does she address?
She helps with relationship strain, family conflict, blended family issues, adoption and foster care topics, and parenting-related stress.
What is her therapeutic style like?
She uses straightforward conversation and practical steps to address problems, focusing on short-term strategies and clearer communication.
How long has she been working in this field?
She has 15 years of professional experience as a clinician working with relationship and mental health concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in California.
Does she offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
What formats are used for sessions?
Session formats are not specified here; confirm current session options before booking.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.