Michelle Zaragoza

Michelle Zaragoza is a licensed clinical social worker in California with nine years of experience. She helps adults who are feeling stressed, anxious, stuck in relationships, or uncertain about career direction. Her work focuses on practical steps people can use right away to feel steadier and more capable.

She brings a collaborative, straightforward style to sessions. Conversations aim to identify what matters most and to build skills that fit everyday life. Michelle offers direct feedback and concrete practices rather than long theoretical talks.

Her approach draws on mindfulness practices to help people notice thoughts and feelings without getting overwhelmed. She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and take meaningful action, plus Client-Centered principles that keep the client’s experience central. Other methods she sometimes uses include EMDR and narrative techniques when they suit a person’s goals.

Michelle frames therapy as problem-solving and growth. She works with clients to set short-term goals and track progress toward larger changes. That can include managing workplace stress, easing persistent shame or guilt, and exploring life purpose.

If someone wants to begin, the first step is a simple matching process and scheduling. Michelle supports people who want steady, practical steps toward better daily functioning and clearer direction.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Michelle uses Mindfulness Therapy to help people notice thoughts and body sensations without getting swept away by them. Mindfulness practices often involve short exercises in awareness and breathing that can be done between sessions to reduce reactivity and improve focus.

She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which helps clients clarify their values and take committed steps toward them. ACT pairs practical action plans with exercises that reduce struggle with difficult internal experiences. Client-Centered Therapy shapes how she listens and responds, making the client’s perspective the starting point for any plan.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss which methods feel most useful and adjust based on a person’s goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and can change as progress is made.

Specific session formats were not listed in the provided profile, so confirm current online options before booking. Many people find online sessions helpful because they can fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten commute time, or allow for a quicker check-in on a lunch break. Online work also makes it easier to practice mindfulness or ACT exercises in everyday environments and then bring observations back to sessions for discussion.