Michelle Laughlin, LCSW

Michelle Laughlin is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in California with four years of professional experience. She helps people manage stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, coping with life changes, and attention difficulties including ADHD. Her work is direct and practical, with clear goals and steps to try.

Michelle uses straightforward conversation to identify patterns that make things harder. She helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and habits, and then tests different ways of responding. Sessions focus on skills and short-term strategies that can reduce overwhelm and improve daily functioning.

Her approach draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, attachment-based ideas, and client-centered techniques. That mix lets her address thought patterns, relationship dynamics, and the person’s own goals. Michelle also uses elements from dialectical behavior therapy and solution-focused work when those fit the situation.

In session she listens for practical problems to solve, like concentration or motivation issues. She works with people who have experienced domestic violence, dissociation, abandonment, or first responder stress, among other concerns. She pays attention to how past relationships affect current reactions.

Michelle describes treatment plans in plain terms and adjusts them as needed. She invites people to try specific exercises between sessions and to review what does or does not help. The emphasis is on steady, manageable steps rather than long, open-ended therapy.

To begin, she asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. The initial visit focuses on current concerns, concrete goals, and a plan for the next few sessions.

How Michelle uses practical approaches in online sessions