IFSTherapists

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LCSW

Michelle Fennessy, LCSW

  • Experience20 years
  • LocationFlorida
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Relationship, and Grief
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
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About Michelle

Michelle Fennessy is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Florida who brings two decades of clinical experience to her work.

Background and approach

She earned advanced training in social work and has combined evidence-based methods with a strengths-oriented outlook to help people navigate anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and relationship challenges. Michelle’s background includes personal and professional experience living and working abroad, which informs her understanding of unique stressors faced by those who have lived internationally.

Michelle emphasizes helping clients shift unhelpful patterns such as addictive behaviors and compulsive relationship habits, and she integrates practical, goal-focused techniques with compassionate listening. Her approach draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy alongside mindfulness practices and Internal Family Systems as part of a flexible toolkit.

She invites clients to notice their inner resources and to pursue changes that produce more ease and wellbeing. Those seeking help with self-esteem, parenting stress, career transitions, compassion fatigue, or intimacy-related concerns will find a clinician who values the courage it takes to begin therapy and who aims to collaborate on achievable, meaningful goals.

Using Internal Systems and Mindful Strategies in Online Care



Internal Family Systems (IFS) frames emotional experience as a system of parts within a person; therapy gently helps identify and dialogue with those parts to reduce internal conflict and increase self-leadership, which can be helpful for trauma, persistent shame, and relationship patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages noticing difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values and taking committed action, a practical approach for anxiety, depression, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and adjusting unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, providing concrete skills for mood, stress, and habit change.

Finding the right combination of approaches is part of the therapeutic process, and the therapist collaborates with each client to discover which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. Together they will evaluate what helps and adjust the plan over time so interventions feel relevant and useful.

Online sessions are offered by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it possible to fit therapy into busy or geographically spread lives. These formats provide flexibility for scheduling, allow continuation during life transitions, and make regular contact more accessible for people balancing work, caregiving, or travel.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, grief, addictions, self-esteem, parenting strain, career and life changes, and compassion fatigue among other related concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is strengths-focused, goal-oriented, and collaborative, combining cognitive and mindfulness-based techniques to help clients try new ways of relating to thoughts and feelings.
What is her professional background?
She has 20 years of clinical experience and has worked both in the U.S. and abroad, bringing perspective on transitions and expatriate stressors to her practice.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida with the credential FL LCSW SW14710 and offers services to clients in that state as part of her practice.
Does she work with clients who live outside the U.S.?
Yes, international clients are accepted and she conducts sessions in English for clients located in other countries when appropriate.
What session formats are available?
Sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.
How are fees structured?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What should I do to begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling a session according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesGriefSelf esteemDepression

Also works with

AddictionsFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesDivorce and separationEating and food-related issuesEmptinessForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-loveSex addictionSexualityWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapySolution-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

20+ years

Licensed

Florida

Languages

English