Michele De Souza Morais
I am a compassionate psychiatrist who takes a holistic, whole-person approach to care. I bring a multicultural and trilingual perspective to my work, providing thoughtful, culturally sensitive care to adults.
Compassion, gratitude, and surrender guide my care; self-understanding and growth from life’s challenges shape healing and change." "Success is patients feeling understood, improving function, and building lasting tools for growth and resilience.
I specialize in the treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder and ADHD, while integrating medication management with evidence-based psychotherapies.
First session
During our first 45-minute session, clients can expect a warm, welcoming, and nonjudgmental space where they can share their concerns, feel heard, and begin to make sense of what they are experiencing. We will explore their current symptoms, psychiatric and personal history, childhood experiences, lifestyle, and other factors that may be influencing their mental and emotional well-being. My goal is to understand each person as a whole, rather than focusing solely on symptoms or diagnoses. Together, we will begin identifying their priorities, strengths, and goals for treatment while discussing an individualized approach that may include medication management, psychotherapy strategies, and holistic interventions to support overall well-being. Clients do not need to have all the answers or know exactly where to begin. I will guide the conversation at a comfortable pace, encourage questions, and help them leave the session with a clearer understanding of their challenges, potential treatment options, and the next steps toward feeling better.
Strengths
One of the greatest strengths I bring to my sessions is my ability to combine evidence-based psychiatric care with a compassionate, holistic approach that considers the whole person—not just their symptoms or diagnosis. As a board-certified psychiatrist with over nine years of clinical experience, I believe meaningful healing begins with understanding each individual's unique story, including their emotional experiences, childhood, relationships, lifestyle, physical health, and the factors that influence their overall well-being. My approach integrates thoughtful medication management with psychotherapy strategies, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, stress reduction, cognitive reframing, and practical tools that foster greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience. I am also passionate about the connection between mental and physical health, incorporating lifestyle, nutrition, exercise, and other supportive wellness strategies when appropriate. I strive to create a warm, safe, and nonjudgmental space where patients feel genuinely heard, accepted, and empowered to take an active role in their healing. I believe that growth involves not only reducing symptoms but also cultivating self-compassion, recognizing personal strengths, developing healthier patterns, and finding greater meaning and balance in life. What makes my approach unique is my commitment to meeting each patient where they are, combining scientific knowledge with empathy, curiosity, and individualized care to help them develop practical, sustainable strategies for lasting change and a better quality of life.
Ideal clients
My ideal clients are individuals who are seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and are open to a comprehensive, holistic approach to mental health. I especially enjoy working with adults experiencing depression, anxiety, ADHD, or difficulties navigating life transitions, stress, and emotional challenges. They may feel overwhelmed, disconnected from themselves, stuck in unhelpful patterns, or simply recognize that they are not feeling or functioning at their best. I appreciate working with individuals who are curious about the connection between their thoughts, emotions, behaviors, physical health, and life experiences, and who are willing to explore different approaches to healing and growth. They do not need to have everything figured out or know exactly what they need when they begin treatment. My goal is to meet each person where they are, help them feel understood without judgment, and work collaboratively toward greater emotional well-being, self-awareness, resilience, and balance. Whether through medication management, psychotherapy strategies, mindfulness, or lifestyle interventions, I hope to support patients in developing practical, sustainable tools that help them feel better, function more fully, and build a more fulfilling relationship with themselves and their lives.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques into my practice to help patients 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 patients 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 patients 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 patients 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 patients 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 patients develop greater resilience, self-awareness, emotional flexibility, and sustainable improvements in their overall well-being.
Location
Virtual sessions