Therapist profile
Michelle Lesagonicz, LCSW
LCSW - Stress and family-focused therapist
Continue with MichelleAbout
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Mindfulness techniques
About Michelle
Michelle Lesagonicz is an Alaska licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 11 years of experience working with adult individuals. She focuses on stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, depression, addictions, parenting concerns, and related life changes.
Her main style is client-centered, which means sessions start with what the person needs right now. Michelle often uses cognitive behavioral techniques to notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. She also draws on mindfulness and solution-focused methods to build small, practical steps forward.
Michelle teaches concrete skills for managing chronic pain, sleep problems, panic, and mood symptoms. She works through traumatic events with approaches that emphasize safety and pacing. When parenting strain or family conflict is a factor, she helps people sort priorities and set manageable boundaries.
Sessions include straightforward problem solving, short mindfulness practices, and goal-focused planning. She uses motivational interviewing to support people who are ambivalent about change, such as with addictions or lifestyle shifts. The work often combines feeling-focused conversation with hands-on coping tools.
Michelle encourages clear communication and practical strategies over vague advice. She explains options plainly and helps people pick techniques that fit their daily life. The focus is on useful changes a person can try between sessions.
How sessions work
How Michelle uses therapeutic approaches online
Client-Centered Therapy is about focusing on the person's immediate needs and priorities. It looks at what matters most to the person and guides sessions around their goals, pacing, and preferred strategies.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches ways to notice thought patterns and change behaviors that keep problems going. It helps with anxiety, depression, sleep issues, panic, and everyday stress by using practical exercises and homework between sessions.
Mindfulness Therapy adds short attention and breathing practices to help reduce reactivity and manage chronic pain or strong emotions. These practices are simple to try in brief moments during the day and can be combined with CBT techniques.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That collaborative choice can change over time as problems shift or progress is made.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm the available options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, shorten travel time, and allow for brief check-ins when life gets hectic. Discussing which approach and session rhythm fits daily life is a normal first step with a licensed professional.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
Alaska
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, parenting strain, relationship and family concerns, addictions, sleep problems, anger, self-esteem, and related issues.
What is her general approach in sessions?
She practices a client-centered style and combines it with cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused work to set practical goals and coping skills.
How much experience does she have?
She has 11 years of experience working with adult individuals.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an Alaska LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker in Alaska.
Does she work in languages other than English or with international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.