MS Portrait of Michelle Sims

Michelle Sims, LCSW-R

Compassionate, practical help for anxiety and stress

21 years in practice · based in New York · sessions in English · online sessions

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About Michelle

Michelle Sims is a licensed clinical social worker with 21 years of professional experience based in New York. She focuses on stress and anxiety and helps people manage trauma, anger, self-esteem, and life changes. She creates a calm space where clients can say what they truly feel without judgment.

She uses practical, evidence-based techniques to help people reduce worry and manage strong emotions. Sessions are conversational and goal-focused, so people leave with tools they can use between meetings.

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Background and approach

Michelle emphasizes steps that feel manageable rather than big, sudden changes. Her background includes long-term practice helping people regain confidence and handle difficult transitions. That experience shapes how she structures sessions and sets realistic goals with each person.

She guides clients through understanding patterns like avoidance, impulsivity, and control issues. Michelle also supports people dealing with attachment and abandonment concerns, body image struggles, caregiver stress, and money-related worry. She addresses communication problems, guilt and shame, and issues that surface during divorce or midlife shifts.

Work often includes building coping skills, improving self-talk, and practicing new ways of relating. Clients can expect straightforward conversation, clear coping strategies, and check-ins about progress. Michelle encourages small steps and practical practice between sessions to help changes stick over time.

Practical approaches for anxiety and life change online

Michelle uses straightforward, evidence-based therapeutic techniques to address worry and strong emotions. One common approach focuses on teaching coping skills and emotion regulation strategies to reduce anxiety and manage anger; this involves short exercises and practice to help people respond differently when stress rises. Another approach helps identify unhelpful thinking patterns and testing them against real-life evidence, which can reduce rumination and improve confidence over time.

Finding the right mix of techniques is part of the work. Michelle will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, needs, and pace. Together they decide what to try first and review what helps most as therapy continues.

Online sessions can fit various schedules and preferences. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and skill demonstrations, while phone sessions can be a simpler option when bandwidth or camera use is a concern. Live chat and text-based messaging let people check in between meetings or use shorter, focused exchanges for quick coaching or progress updates. These options make regular contact easier to maintain while practicing skills in daily life.
Explore online therapy options See what online therapy involves and what your next steps would be.

Questions people ask

What concerns does Michelle commonly address?
She focuses on stress and anxiety and also helps with trauma and abuse, anger, low self-esteem, and coping with life changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Sessions are conversational and practical, using evidence-based techniques to build coping skills and manageable steps for change.
How much experience does she have?
Michelle has 21 years of professional work experience practicing as a licensed clinician.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an LCSW-R licensed in New York and practices out of that state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions delivered?
Therapy is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
What does therapy cost and how do I start?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; begin by clicking the Start Therapy button and completing the short matching questionnaire to schedule.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
21 years
Licensed
New York
Languages
English

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