Michelle McHugh, LICSW, LCSW

Michelle McHugh is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 23 years of experience. She earned a Master of Social Work from New York University and has practiced across inpatient and outpatient settings. Michelle draws on practical, structured methods to help people facing stress, anxiety, addiction, trauma, depression, relationship strain, grief, sleep problems, and self-esteem struggles.

Her background includes work in inpatient addiction rehabilitation and psychiatric units as well as outpatient mental health clinics. She has spent more than a decade serving in the Army National Guard as a Behavioral Health Officer and has eight years assisting active Guard soldiers and veterans from all branches. That blend of civilian clinical practice and service experience informs how she thinks about coping and recovery.

Michelle uses a collaborative, client-focused style and avoids stigmatizing labels. She blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, mindfulness practices, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR, and trauma-focused work to match what each person needs. Sessions emphasize clear goals, skill-building, and practical steps people can use between meetings.

Her additional areas of focus include codependency, substance use concerns, family of origin issues, first responder issues, gender dysphoria, and challenges linked to aging. Michelle also works with topics such as prejudice and discrimination, seasonal mood changes, sexuality, and women’s issues.

People who want straightforward therapy and tools to manage day-to-day stress often find her approach useful. To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions based on the therapist’s availability.

How Michelle’s Approaches Translate to Online Therapy

CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them against real-life experiences. It teaches practical skills you can use between sessions to change behavior and reduce anxiety or low mood.

EMDR is a trauma-focused method that uses structured processing to reduce distress linked to traumatic memories. It is often used when past events continue to cause strong emotional reactions or symptoms of post-traumatic stress.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches simple awareness practices to help with stress, sleep, and emotion regulation. These exercises are short and meant to be practiced regularly rather than only during sessions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to choose techniques that match their goals, comfort level, and day-to-day needs. Plans are adjusted as progress is made and new issues come up.

The biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm the available options before booking. Many people find online work helpful because it can fit into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Others appreciate using therapy while juggling work, service commitments, or caregiving. Licensed professionals can adapt CBT, EMDR, and mindfulness practices for remote sessions when those formats are supported.