MU Portrait of Michelle Upton

Michelle Upton, LICSW

Calm, practical support for anxiety and life changes

8 years in practice · based in Massachusetts · sessions in English · online sessions

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About Michelle

Michelle Upton is a licensed independent clinical social worker with eight years of experience supporting people facing anxiety, stress, grief, and changes in life. She offers steady, calm guidance for everyday struggles like relationship concerns, parenting strain, career stress, and issues with self-esteem. Her approach is practical and down-to-earth, aimed at helping people find clearer steps forward.

Michelle prefers to work with each person to pick methods that fit their situation.

Book with Michelle Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Background and approach

She draws on client-centered methods to listen and build trust, and uses cognitive and mindfulness tools to help manage worry and strong emotions. Sessions focus on real-life coping skills and clearer thinking rather than jargon. Her background includes many years collaborating with medical teams and supporting caregivers.

That experience informs how she helps people who are coping with illness, aging-related concerns, or caregiving stress. She also addresses addiction-related problems and challenges like forgiveness, guilt, or major life transitions. Michelle aims to make sessions feel calm and comfortable.

She blends practical skill-building with attention to values and meaning. People who meet with her work on problem-solving steps, emotion regulation skills, and ways to rebuild confidence. Therapy with Michelle moves at a practical pace set by the client.

She helps people take small, achievable steps toward their goals while also acknowledging the emotional weight of change. Her work centers on listening, collaboration, and clear tools people can use between sessions.

How Michelle Uses Evidence-Based Methods Online

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and collaboration. It emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship so people can talk through what matters most and set personal goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and teaches practical ways to shift them, which is useful for anxiety and worry. Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, offers concrete emotion regulation and distress-tolerance skills to help manage strong feelings and reduce impulsive reactions.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. Michelle will work together with each person to try methods that fit their needs and goals. She often combines techniques so sessions match both the immediate challenge and longer-term values a person wants to build toward.

Online therapy offers flexibility with several formats. Video calls let people use face-to-face conversation and visual cues, while phone sessions can be easier when video is not needed or bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for short check-ins, coaching-style support, or when a written reflection feels helpful. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and different daily routines.
Book with Michelle Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Questions people ask

What concerns does Michelle help with?
She supports people dealing with anxiety, stress, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting strain, career stress, addictions, and caregiving challenges.
How would you describe her approach and style?
Her style is calm and practical. She listens first, then uses client-centered conversation plus skill-based techniques to address immediate problems.
What experience does she bring to sessions?
Michelle has eight years of clinical experience working with individuals and coordinating with medical teams and caregivers on complex life changes.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She holds an MA and is a LICSW - Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Massachusetts.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to match different scheduling and communication needs.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
8 years
Licensed
Massachusetts
Languages
English

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