Hi there, I’m Michelle. I’m a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California and Maine and I’m passionate about working with high-functioning individuals as they navigate difficult life transitions and challenges related to anxiety, depression, relationship distress, codependency, and self-esteem. I'm also a Certified Perinatal Mental Health Provider (PMH-C) and frequently work with people who are pregnant or in the postpartum period who are experiencing depression and anxiety. I help clients feel more comfortable with boundary setting, communicating their needs, and learning how to trust themselves again after experiencing trauma or betrayal.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session, we'll complete an initial assessment, talk about goals, and make sure we are a good clinical fit for one another. We'll be able to get to know each other a little better and I'll be able to answer any questions that you may have. The first session isn't really therapy as much as it is an information gathering session, but I try to make it as painless as possible.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My biggest strengths are cultivating a safe therapeutic environment, developing a realistic plan for progress, and offering clients deeper insight into their feelings and behaviors. It is important to me that I'm able to normalize the experiences my clients are having so that they feel less alone.
About Michelle DeVincentis
Specializes in
Serves ages
Licensed in
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I help clients recognize unhelpful/unhealthy thought patterns and we explore how to reframe and challenge those ideas. We work together to develop healthier self-talk, effective communication skills, and overall self-kindness. Many clients need support navigating the pitfalls of anxiety, depression/postpartum depression, and trauma that interfere with their daily lives. CBT can be adapted to fit most client preferences and is extremely helpful in reducing suffering.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
With solution focused treatment, a goal is identified by the client and progress will get broken down into achievable, realistic, and measurable steps. We work on concrete skills to help clients feel more accomplished and empowered in their lives in relationships. We'll check in every week on progress and any barriers to change that may have come up along the way.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
I treat client symptoms of PTSD/trauma with Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), which is an evidence-based treatment that targets symptoms and unhelpful thinking patterns that are a direct result of the experienced trauma. CPT is generally short-term (9-15 sessions) and can reduce the avoidance and re-experiencing that are markers of a PTSD diagnosis.
Interpersonal
I utilize Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) to help clients improve functioning and alleviate symptoms associated with depression. Clients who can benefit from IPT are experiencing depression/postpartum depression and are experiencing role transitions, grief & loss, or interpersonal disputes.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT is helpful for clients who want to spend time shifting their focus back to what is important to them. When clients can identify their values and live authentically, they often experience a reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety. I have been using ACT in treatment for about five years.