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Michelle Laughlin

Michelle Laughlin, LCSW

Therapist in California

Compassionate LCSW focused on practical growth

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4 years of experience listed

LCSW professional credentials

English languages

  • Self esteem support
  • Anxiety and stress
  • Attachment work

About Michelle

Michelle Laughlin is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in California with four years of professional experience. She helps people handle stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and problems with self esteem. She also supports clients who are coping with life changes, managing attention and focus, or dealing with memory and concentration struggles.

Michelle uses a straightforward, respectful approach. Sessions focus on what matters most to each person. She listens closely, then tailors conversations and practical steps to match individual needs and goals.

Her work draws on methods that help people understand patterns in relationships and behavior. She combines thinking-based strategies with emotion-focused and solution-oriented tools. This mix is used to address issues such as abandonment, attachment struggles, communication problems, and feelings of emptiness.

Clients can expect a collaborative process that balances short-term coping skills with attention to longer patterns. Michelle aims to help people build confidence, increase motivation, and find clearer ways to manage daily stressors. She emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and compassion throughout the work.

Choosing to start therapy can feel hard. Michelle supports each step of that choice, helping people set attainable goals and adjust plans as progress happens.

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in relationships and how early bonds influence current behavior. It helps people who struggle with trust, abandonment, or unstable closeness to others by identifying recurring interaction patterns and practicing new ways of relating.

Client-Centered Therapy centers the person’s own experience and goals. The therapist offers empathy and reflection so clients can find their own solutions, which often helps with self esteem, motivation, and life changes.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thinking and build more effective coping for anxiety, focus problems, and stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist works collaboratively to match methods to a person’s goals, needs, and preferences. This means trying practical strategies first and adjusting based on how well they fit.

Because session formats are not specified here, confirm current online session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, allow short check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Different approaches can be used effectively in remote sessions, and the therapist will help shape sessions so they fit into daily routines and responsibilities.

Areas of expertise

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesCo-morbidityCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDissociationDomestic violenceEmptinessFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSelf-harmSelf-loveWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Solution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

4+ years

Credentials

California

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Michelle commonly address?

She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, low self esteem, coping with life changes, and ADHD-related focus challenges among other related issues.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is collaborative and practical. She listens first, then tailors conversations and steps to each person’s needs.

What experience does she bring to sessions?

She has four years of professional experience practicing as a licensed clinical social worker in California.

What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?

She holds an LCSW credential and is licensed in California.

In which languages can sessions be held?

Sessions are offered in English.

Does she work with clients outside the United States?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with her?

Use the continue button on this profile, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

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