Michelle Ely , LCSW

Michelle Ely is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who practices from Alaska and brings a straightforward, warm style to sessions. She focuses on helping people reduce stress and anxiety, cope with depression, and work through relationship and parenting challenges. Michelle also supports people facing grief, trauma and abuse, anger, intimacy struggles, and issues around self-esteem and life transitions.

She has six years as an LCSW and decades of prior social work experience. That background shaped a practical approach to problem solving and short-term goals. Michelle keeps sessions interactive and direct, and she aims to treat people with sensitivity and respect.

Her work is flexible and adapts to each person’s needs. She draws on a mix of evidence-based techniques selected for the situation. Michelle helps clients use their own strengths to tackle difficult moments and make steady progress.

Michelle has experience addressing concerns experienced by women, including career shifts, caregiving stress, and issues tied to identity and relationships. She also works with people who identify as LGBT and with those navigating family of origin or blended family problems.

Clients often come ready to solve a specific problem or wanting steady support through change. Michelle emphasizes collaboration and simple, doable steps so therapy fits into everyday life.

To begin, she asks people to set clear goals and looks for practical strategies that fit their routines and values.

Therapeutic approaches and online options that fit your life

Michelle uses a blend of evidence-based therapeutic techniques tailored to each person. One common approach focuses on learning skills to manage stress and anxiety, teaching concrete breathing, grounding, and thought-management strategies that help reduce daily overwhelm. Another approach centers on processing difficult experiences and trauma through guided sessions that help people make sense of painful memories and reduce their hold on current life.

Figuring out the best approach is part of the process. The therapist works collaboratively with each person to set goals, try methods, and adjust techniques based on what does and does not help. That means treatments can change as needs and priorities evolve.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video lets you work face to face from another location. Phone is helpful when bandwidth or being on camera is an issue. Live chat and text messaging allow brief check-ins, journaling-style exchanges, or quick problem solving between longer sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and differing comfort levels.