Michelle Ely, LCSW

Licensed in California · 6 years in practice

Michelle Ely is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who focuses on practical, down-to-earth support.

License and registration

LCSW, California: 86978 · expires November 2026
LCSW, Alaska: 165433 · expires June 2026
NPI: 1366980260 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 6
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.

About Michelle

Michelle Ely is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who focuses on practical, down-to-earth support. She helps people reduce stress and anxiety, manage anger, and sort through relationship and parenting challenges. Her style is warm, interactive, and direct to keep sessions focused and useful.

With six years as an LCSW and a longer history as a social worker, she draws on broad experience to tailor care to each person. She uses a mix of approaches chosen to match what a person needs right now.

Background and approach

Sessions are guided by respect, sensitivity, and practical problem solving. Michelle helps people work through trauma and abuse, grief, and intimacy-related concerns. She also supports those facing career decisions, low self-esteem, and life changes.

Additional focus areas include stress related to caregiving, blended family issues, and identity concerns related to LGBT experiences. She is licensed in California and Alaska and practices from Alaska. Sessions are offered in English and conducted online through a variety of formats.

Her background includes work with veteran and armed forces issues and with people who have intellectual disability and autism spectrum concerns. Michelle emphasizes client strengths and real skills. She invites people to explore what matters most to them and to try steps that fit their daily life.

The first step is often short-term goal setting and simple tools to manage symptoms while deeper issues are addressed.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Michelle lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Online support

Evidence-Based Techniques and Online Options

Michelle uses a mix of evidence-based therapeutic techniques and chooses what fits each person's needs. One common approach is skills-based work that teaches concrete tools for reducing anxiety and managing stress, such as breathing strategies and step-by-step coping plans. This kind of work is helpful for day-to-day symptoms and crisis moments.

Another frequently used approach focuses on processing and coping with trauma and grief through pacing and grounding techniques. These methods aim to help people tolerate difficult memories and take manageable steps toward feeling steadier. A third strand of her work centers on communication and relationship skills to address intimacy-related issues and problems with family interactions.

Choosing the best approach is collaborative. The therapist will talk through goals, preferences, and what has or has not worked before, then try methods that fit the client's situation. Adjustments are made as progress is tracked so the plan stays practical and relevant.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation and modeling skills. Phone can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or text messaging can serve for quick check-ins, brief coaching, or when someone prefers writing to speaking. These options help therapy fit into work, caregiving, and daily life.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?

Michelle works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and parenting challenges, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, and compassion fatigue among other areas.

How would you describe the therapy style here?

The approach is warm, interactive, and direct. Sessions focus on practical steps, clear communication, and building on a person's strengths.

What is Michelle Ely's professional background?

She has six years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and additional prior experience as a social worker, giving her broad practice experience with a range of issues.

Where is the therapist based and what credentials are held?

She practices from Alaska and holds LCSW credentials listed for California and Alaska.

Which languages are supported for sessions?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are offered for online work?

Michelle sees clients through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and 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.

What are the steps to begin therapy?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

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