Michele De Souza Morais
I'm a board-certified psychiatrist with over nine years of experience, and I focus on helping adults with ADHD, anxiety, and depression. I love seeing people go from feeling scattered, worried, or stuck to feeling clear, calm, and more like themselves.
Compassion, gratitude, and surrender guide my care; self-understanding and growth from life’s challenges shape healing and change." "Success is clients feeling understood, improving function, and building lasting tools for growth and resilience.
Many of my clients notice better focus, steadier moods, better sleep, and more energy for the people and things they care about. I also work with adults who have bipolar disorder, OCD, and autism. I support people through parenting stress, pregnancy and postpartum, low self-esteem, and big life changes. I speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and I bring a caring, culturally aware approach to every visit. Together, we'll find the right mix of medication, practical coping skills, and healthy daily habits for you.
First session
In our first 45-minute visit, you can expect a warm, welcoming space where you can share what's on your mind and feel heard. I'll ask about your current symptoms, your health and personal history, your childhood, your daily habits, and anything else that may be affecting how you feel. I want to understand you as a whole person, not just a diagnosis. Together, we'll talk about what matters most to you, the strengths you already have, and what you hope to get out of treatment. We'll also talk about a plan that fits you, which may include medication, coping skills, and healthy habits. You don't need to have all the answers or know where to start. I'll go at a comfortable pace and welcome your questions. By the end of the visit, you'll have a clearer picture of what you're facing, the options available, and your next steps toward feeling better.
Strengths
I combine careful, science-based psychiatric care with a caring, whole-person approach. I believe healing starts with understanding your story, including your feelings, childhood, relationships, daily habits, and physical health. I offer thoughtful medication management along with practical tools like mindfulness, stress relief, and ways to change unhelpful thoughts. These tools can help you understand yourself better, handle big emotions, and bounce back from hard times. I'm also passionate about the link between mental and physical health, so when it fits, we can talk about food, exercise, and other healthy habits. My goal is to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where you feel heard and can take an active role in your care. I believe growth means more than easing symptoms. It also means being kinder to yourself, seeing your strengths, building healthier patterns, and finding more balance and meaning in life. I meet each client where they are, and I bring together medical knowledge, empathy, and curiosity to build a plan that is practical and lasting.
Ideal clients
My ideal clients are adults who feel overwhelmed, distracted, anxious, or down and are ready to feel better. They might be busy professionals who can't stay focused, new parents feeling stretched thin, or people going through a move, a breakup, a career change, or another big transition. They may not know exactly what they need yet, and that's okay. They want a doctor who listens, explains things clearly, and works with them as a team.
Origin story
My path to becoming a mental health provider began during my clinical training in medical school, when I discovered a deep interest in psychiatry and the profound impact mental health has on every aspect of a person’s life. I was drawn to helping individuals facing emotional and psychological struggles because these challenges can be incredibly difficult to live with, yet they also hold tremendous potential for healing, growth, and transformation. My own experiences overcoming personal obstacles have also shaped the way I approach care, reinforcing my belief that the mind can become a powerful ally when we learn to better understand ourselves, adapt to challenges, and work compassionately within our limitations.
Ongoing work together
Our ongoing work together will be a collaborative, individualized process that evolves as clients grow and their needs change. Depending on their goals, treatment may include medication management, psychotherapy strategies, cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, and lifestyle interventions that support the connection between mental and physical well-being. We will regularly evaluate progress, discuss what is helping, and adjust our approach as needed. Progress is not always linear, and it may look different for each person. Sometimes it means experiencing fewer symptoms, improved sleep, or greater motivation; other times, it means developing a better understanding of emotional patterns, responding to challenges with greater self-compassion, building healthier relationships, or feeling more confident navigating everyday life. My goal is to help clients develop practical, sustainable tools that extend beyond our sessions, empowering them to become more resilient, emotionally balanced, and connected to themselves. Over time, I hope they will not only feel better but also gain a deeper understanding of themselves and a greater sense of agency in their overall well-being and quality of life.
Medication approach
My approach to medication management is thoughtful, individualized, and holistic. I believe medication can be a valuable tool in mental health treatment, but it is important to consider the whole person rather than focusing solely on symptoms or diagnoses. I take time to understand each client's history, concerns, preferences, lifestyle, and treatment goals before making recommendations. Together, we discuss the potential benefits, risks, and side effects of medication, ensuring clients feel informed and actively involved in their care. I strive to use medication thoughtfully, finding the right balance between symptom relief, tolerability, and overall well-being while regularly reassessing progress and adjusting treatment as needed. When appropriate, I also incorporate psychotherapy strategies, mindfulness, nutrition, exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle interventions to support mental and physical health. My goal is not simply to reduce symptoms, but to help clients feel better, function more fully, and develop sustainable strategies for long-term emotional wellness. I view treatment as a collaborative partnership built on trust, compassion, and respect for each individual's unique needs.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques into my practice to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and how these patterns influence their mental health. Together, we identify unhelpful thinking patterns, underlying beliefs, and behavioral habits that may contribute to mental health challenges, or difficulties navigating everyday life. I help clients develop practical strategies to challenge negative thoughts, reframe limiting beliefs, improve emotional regulation, and build healthier habits. I also integrate mindfulness, self-compassion, gratitude practices, and other practical tools that help clients shift their relationship with difficult emotions, interrupt repetitive negative thinking, and respond to life's challenges with greater awareness and intention. When appropriate, we explore techniques that encourage clients to step outside habitual reactions, redirect attention away from unproductive mental patterns, and cultivate a more balanced, constructive perspective. My approach emphasizes practicing these skills in everyday life, empowering clients to become active participants in their own growth. By combining evidence-based CBT strategies with these complementary tools and a holistic understanding of each person's experiences, I aim to help clients develop greater resilience, self-awareness, emotional flexibility, and sustainable improvements in their overall well-being.
Location
Virtual sessions