Michelle Lesesne-De Santis, LCSW

Michelle Lesesne-De Santis is a licensed clinical social worker in Florida who focuses on helping people rebuild confidence and find clarity during big life transitions. She brings 25 years of experience to conversations about motivation, self esteem, career concerns, and coping with major changes. Michelle aims to treat people with respect, sensitivity, and compassion while tailoring sessions to each person’s situation.

Her approach blends practical techniques with a conversational style. She uses methods from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Client-Centered work to help people notice unhelpful thoughts, try new behaviors, and align actions with values. Mindfulness and narrative techniques also appear when they fit a person’s goals.

Michelle has helped people navigate career shifts, care-related exhaustion, and the uncertainty of midlife moments. She also addresses body image, life purpose, isolation, and the effects of illness or injury such as cancer or traumatic brain injury. Coaching skills are used for goal-setting and action planning when appropriate.

Sessions are shaped around what each person needs, with plans adjusted as progress is made. Conversation, gentle challenge, and practical exercises are common parts of her work. She encourages small changes that add up to clearer direction and greater self-compassion.

To get started, prospective clients complete a brief matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions as available. Michelle conducts work in English and practices across Florida as an LCSW.

How therapeutic approaches guide online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and commit to actions that match their values. It can be useful when a person feels stuck during major life changes or a midlife moment. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and shifting patterns of thinking and behavior that get in the way of goals, which often helps with confidence, career decisions, and self esteem. Client-Centered Therapy centers on listening, empathy, and respect to help people feel heard and discover their own solutions.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. The therapist works collaboratively to decide which methods fit a person’s goals, needs, and comfort level. That plan can change over time as progress is made and priorities shift.

Practical benefits of online therapy often include easier scheduling and fitting sessions into a busy life. Before booking, confirm the session formats offered for this therapist since formats were not specified in the biography. Online work can make regular check-ins and goal-focused coaching easier to maintain alongside work or caregiving responsibilities, and sessions can be adjusted for shorter check-ins or longer focused work as needed.