Michelle Santana, LCSW

Evidence-based approaches in online care

Michelle uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skills and steady progress. One approach emphasizes identifying unhelpful thought patterns and testing new ways of thinking and acting to reduce anxiety and low mood. This helps when worry or negative self-talk keeps someone stuck. Another approach focuses on building specific coping skills, such as grounding, pacing activities, and small behavioral experiments to raise motivation and improve mood. These tools are useful for stress, low energy, and social anxiety. Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to choose methods that match their goals, needs, and comfort level, and will adjust the plan as progress is made. Online sessions offer flexibility for busy lives. Video calls let people work face to face when they prefer a visual connection. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier when a short check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging allow brief exchanges, ongoing check-ins, and written reflections between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, family routines, and day-to-day life.