Michelle Lesesne-De Santis , LCSW

Michelle Lesesne-De Santis is a licensed clinical social worker who brings 25 years of practice to her work. She focuses on building motivation, self-esteem, and confidence so people can move forward in their lives. Michelle also supports career concerns, coping with life changes, and professional coaching. She works with many issues that affect women and those navigating major life shifts.

Michelle uses straightforward conversation to learn what matters to each person. She listens without judgment and adapts sessions to fit individual needs. That can mean practical problem solving for work challenges or exploring values and meaning when life feels unsettled.

Her approach draws on methods such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy. She blends these with mindfulness and narrative techniques to help people notice patterns, try different responses, and build habits that fit their goals.

Sessions can focus on body image, self-love, compassion fatigue, or the strain of caregiving and health issues such as cancer or traumatic brain injury. Michelle also helps people facing isolation, midlife transitions, forgiveness work, and finding renewed purpose.

She practices in Florida and offers a calm, respectful space to talk through concerns. Michelle aims to help people take realistic steps toward a more satisfying life while honoring their pace and preferences.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Michelle commonly draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in online work. ACT emphasizes clarifying personal values and taking committed steps toward them while learning to live with difficult thoughts and feelings. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and testing small behavior changes to reduce distress and improve daily functioning.

She also uses Client-Centered Therapy to keep the work grounded in respectful listening and collaboration. That approach helps people feel heard and shapes goals that reflect their priorities. Together the therapist and client explore which methods fit best, and they adjust the plan as needs and goals change.

Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video works well for in-depth conversation and eye contact, phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and messaging offers brief check-ins or ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and to keep progress moving forward.