Michelle Nguyen

Michelle Nguyen is a licensed clinical social worker (LICSW) who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, and the everyday strain of life changes. She draws on five years of clinical experience to offer steady, practical support. Michelle writes plainly and listens for what matters most to each person she meets.

She has worked in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric settings. She also spent many years as an investigative social worker with Child Protective Services and has current experience supporting homeless veterans. Those roles shaped her ability to respond calmly in tense situations and to handle complex problems step by step.

In sessions she emphasizes clear goals and actionable steps. She uses client-centered methods to follow the client’s lead, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to notice how thoughts affect behavior, and Solution-Focused work to map small changes that add up. Mindfulness and motivational interviewing also appear in her conversations when they match a client’s needs.

Michelle aims for short-term gains and longer-term growth depending on the person’s goals. She often helps people tackle day-to-day habits, communication challenges, and emotions such as guilt or shame. Practical tools and follow-up ideas are common parts of her work.

Her approach is straightforward and collaborative. She helps clients name priorities, try manageable steps, and evaluate what’s working. Michelle practices in the District of Columbia and conducts sessions in English.

How Michelle’s approaches translate to online work

Michelle often uses Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on following the client’s perspective, listening without judgment, and shaping sessions around what the person wants to address. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors connect and gives simple strategies to test new ways of thinking and acting.

Finding the right approach is part of the early work. Michelle collaborates with each person to figure out which methods fit their goals and comfort level. She will check in about what’s helping and adjust strategies over time so the plan stays useful and realistic.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also let people use tools from sessions in the moment, such as trying a breathing exercise during a stressful day or practicing a communication skill before a conversation.