Michele Gardner
I’m a licensed clinical social worker who works with teens, young adults, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, self-esteem, school or work stress, and relationship challenges. I understand how easy it can be to feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected when you’re managing expectations from others while also trying to figure out what you need for yourself. My approach is warm, collaborative, and tailored to each person’s needs. I aim to create a space where clients can slow down, better understand themselves and their emotions, develop practical ways of coping, and make meaningful changes at a pace that feels right for them.
First session
In our first session, I’ll spend time getting to know you, what brought you to therapy, and what you’re hoping might be different in your life. We may talk about what has been feeling difficult, what is already working, and any experiences or relationships that feel important for me to understand. You don’t need to arrive with a perfectly defined goal or know exactly where to start. I’ll ask questions to help guide the conversation, and you’ll have space to ask questions too. By the end of the session, my hope is that you’ll have a better sense of what working together might look like and whether I feel like the right fit for you.
Strengths
One of my greatest strengths as a therapist is creating a space where clients can feel comfortable being themselves. I aim to make therapy feel human and approachable, and sometimes humor becomes part of that too. I’m curious about what lies beneath the surface, why certain patterns keep repeating, where our reactions come from, and what our emotions may be trying to tell us. At the same time, I don't believe insight alone is always enough. I also help clients develop practical ways to respond differently when they're anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, or navigating difficult relationships. I don't see clients as a collection of symptoms to fix. I want to understand who you are, what matters to you, and what has shaped the way you move through the world. From there, we can figure out together what might help.
Ideal clients
My ideal client may be feeling anxious, overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure of themselves, even if things seem to be going well from the outside. They may put a lot of pressure on themselves, struggle with self-doubt, feel overwhelmed by school, work, relationships, or major life changes, or notice patterns they understand intellectually but have difficulty changing. I especially enjoy working with clients who are curious about themselves and open to exploring both what they’re experiencing now and the experiences that have shaped them. You don’t need to come to therapy knowing exactly what you want to work on or having the right words for how you feel. We can figure that out together. My goal is to help you better understand yourself, feel more confident navigating difficult emotions and relationships, and develop ways of coping that feel sustainable and true to who you are.
Origin story
I was drawn to therapy because I’ve always been interested in understanding people; the experiences that shape us, the patterns we develop, and what helps us grow and change. I value being able to offer people a space where they can feel heard and understood while also gaining new insight into themselves. What continues to inspire me is seeing clients become more confident in understanding their emotions, trusting themselves, and navigating challenges in ways that feel more intentional and authentic.
Ongoing work together
Our work will be collaborative and shaped by what feels most important to you. Some sessions may focus on what is happening in your life right now, while others may involve looking more closely at recurring patterns, relationships, emotions, or past experiences that help us understand what is happening beneath the surface. Along the way, we’ll also identify practical strategies for navigating difficult emotions and situations differently. Progress can look different for everyone. You may notice that you understand yourself better, recover more quickly from difficult moments, feel less controlled by anxiety or self-doubt, communicate your needs more confidently, or begin responding differently to situations that once left you feeling stuck. We’ll check in about what is and isn’t working and adjust our approach as your needs and goals evolve.
Treatment methods
Person-centered (Rogerian)
I believe you are the expert on your own experience. Rather than telling you how you should think or feel, I bring curiosity, warmth, and genuine collaboration to our work, creating space for you to better understand yourself and discover what feels right for you.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
Sometimes the harder we work to get rid of anxiety, uncomfortable thoughts, or difficult emotions, the more stuck we become. I use ACT to help clients change their relationship with these experiences, make room for discomfort, and keep moving toward the people and things that matter to them.
Psychodynamic
I’m interested not only in what is happening in your life now, but in the patterns underneath it. Together, we may get curious about recurring relationship dynamics, emotional reactions, or ways of coping and explore where they came from, what purpose they have served, and whether they still fit the life you want now.
Trauma-Informed Care
I recognize that many of the ways we cope developed for a reason, even when those same strategies eventually begin creating problems of their own. I approach difficult experiences with curiosity rather than judgment and pay attention to safety, trust, choice, and pacing so that therapy does not feel like something being done to you.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
When emotions become intense, it can be difficult to know what to do with them in the moment. I draw from DBT to help clients slow things down, recognize what is happening internally, tolerate difficult moments, communicate more effectively, and make choices they feel better about afterward.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Doesn't specialize in
Licensed in
- New YorkLicense 114608