Michelle Pennella, LMHC

Michelle Pennella is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) based in New York. She has four years of clinical experience helping people manage anxiety, depression, grief, and trauma. Michelle focuses on clear, practical steps people can use right away to feel steadier in daily life.

She aims to build self-compassion and a clearer sense of purpose. Sessions emphasize understanding emotions and developing coping skills that fit each person’s life. Michelle offers a calm, nonjudgmental space where people can talk through painful experiences and find ways to move forward.

Her work draws on several evidence-based methods, including cognitive strategies and mindfulness techniques. She uses what fits each person - not a one-size-fits-all plan - and adjusts as needs change. That approach helps people tackle intrusive thoughts, mood swings, or burnout with concrete practices.

Michelle also supports people dealing with life transitions and midlife concerns. She helps clients sort priorities, manage relationship stress, and cope with feelings of emptiness or isolation. The focus is on practical change and clearer decision making.

In therapy she mixes skill-building with reflective conversation. Clients learn breathing and attention exercises, step-by-step behavior changes, and ways to reframe unhelpful thoughts. The result is more steady mood, clearer goals, and tools to handle setbacks.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Michelle uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in practical ways. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It can help when life feels stuck or when someone is questioning purpose. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on spotting unhelpful thought patterns and testing them with small behavior changes to reduce anxiety and depression.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michelle will talk with each person about goals and daily life, then try methods that fit those needs. This is a collaborative process and the plan can change as progress is made.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when time is tight, and remove travel time so appointments can happen between obligations. Talk with Michelle during the matching process about what will fit your routine and how sessions can be scheduled around work, caregiving, or other responsibilities.