Profile / United States
Michelle McHugh, LICSW, LCSW
Arkansas
LICSW LCSW - Trauma and Addictions
See online therapy options- CBT techniques
- EMDR for trauma
- Mindfulness skills
About Michelle
Michelle McHugh is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 23 years of practice. She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, relationship concerns, grief, sleep problems, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes. She practices in Arkansas and offers services in English, and she accepts international clients.
McHugh began her career after completing a Master of Social Work at New York University. Her clinical background includes inpatient addiction treatment, inpatient psychiatric care, and outpatient mental health clinics. She has substantial experience with substance use disorders, trauma and post-traumatic stress, codependency, shame, and LGBTQIA-related concerns. She also brings experience from over a decade of service in the Army National Guard as a behavioral health officer, including work with active Guard members and veterans.
Her sessions are collaborative and focused on practical strategies. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with mindfulness practices and motivational interviewing. She also integrates EMDR and trauma-focused methods when appropriate for trauma-related concerns.
In practice she emphasizes straightforward skills to notice unhelpful thoughts and habits. That can include learning techniques to manage anxiety, strategies for sleep, or steps to support recovery from substance use. She uses structured tools and check-ins to track progress over time.
Costs vary with location and she uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. To start, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session through the online therapy options button.
How CBT, EMDR, and Mindfulness are used online
Michelle McHugh uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and replace it with practical coping steps. CBT sessions often include written exercises, thought records, and behavioral experiments that clients can practice between meetings.She also uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for trauma-related symptoms. EMDR involves guided procedures to process distressing memories and reduce their emotional intensity, and it is used when trauma-focused work fits the client's goals.
Mindfulness Therapy is presented as simple attention-training and breathing exercises. These practices aim to reduce reactivity and improve sleep, stress management, and mood regulation.
Choosing the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and current difficulties, then recommend which methods to try first. Adjustments are made along the way based on how the client responds.
The biography does not specify session formats, so confirm which options are offered before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into a workday, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also let clients practice CBT worksheets or mindfulness exercises at home and bring notes to sessions for concrete discussion.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Listed in
Alabama, Arkansas
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, depression, relationship issues, grief, sleep problems, self-esteem, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
She applies CBT to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and test different responses. Sessions focus on practical skills and short-term strategies to change patterns that cause distress.
What kind of clinical background does she have?
She has 23 years of experience across inpatient addiction rehabs, inpatient psychiatric facilities, and outpatient clinics, plus over a decade of service in the Army National Guard as a behavioral health officer.
What credentials and location apply to her practice?
She holds LICSW and LCSW credentials and practices in Arkansas with licensing in Alabama and Arkansas.
Which languages are supported and can she work with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Costs vary with location and services. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
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 you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.