Michelle Garibaldi

Compassionate, practical therapy for life transitions

LMFT California

Experience: 23 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Michelle

Michelle Garibaldi is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California who focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, depression, addictions, grief, and related life changes.

Background and approach

With 23 years of professional experience, she combines warmth and empathy with practical, goal-oriented work to support clients who want clearer direction and improved emotional well-being. Michelle emphasizes collaboration, helping clients identify specific goals and develop steps to move toward them.

Her approach integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with client-centered listening and motivational techniques, plus elements of existential and mindfulness therapy when helpful. This mix lets her tailor sessions to whatever a person needs most - whether that means changing unhelpful thinking patterns, strengthening coping skills, or exploring meaning and values during difficult transitions.

Michelle’s practice also addresses issues such as intimacy concerns, parenting and blended family challenges, compassion fatigue, ADHD, end-of-life and hospice concerns, and midlife or career shifts. She offers multiple session formats to fit different lifestyles and uses an engaging, active style aimed at practical progress while honoring each client’s lived experience.

CBT and Collaborative Care Online

Michelle often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns; this approach is well suited to anxiety, depression, sleep issues, and coping with life changes. She also uses client-centered techniques that prioritize empathic listening and the client’s own goals, which supports work on relationship concerns, grief, self-esteem, and parenting challenges.

Choosing the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. The therapist will work together with each person to decide whether CBT, client-centered work, existential exploration, mindfulness practices, or motivational interviewing best fits their goals and preferences, and adjustments are made as progress unfolds.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering practical flexibility for busy schedules or those who need remote access. These formats make it possible to continue steady therapeutic work from different locations while keeping sessions consistent with a client’s life and availability.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?

Michelle works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, relationship and family problems, trauma and abuse, depression, addictions, grief, intimacy-related issues, sleeping problems, parenting, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, and coping with life changes.

What is the therapeutic style and approach during sessions?

The clinician uses a warm, empathic, collaborative style paired with active, result-focused techniques. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used alongside client-centered, existential, mindfulness, narrative, and motivational interviewing methods depending on client needs.

How much clinical experience does the therapist have?

The therapist has 23 years of professional experience working with people on a wide variety of emotional and relational concerns.

What are the therapist's credentials and where are they located?

Michelle is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in California, credential CA LMFT 40177.

Can sessions be conducted in other languages or for international clients?

Sessions are offered in English, and the therapist is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats are available for therapy?

Clients may meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing flexibility to choose what fits their schedule and needs.

How is cost handled for therapy with this clinician?

Cost varies with client location and therapist availability; sessions are part of a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What steps are required to begin working together?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse Depression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCommunication problemsDivorce and separationFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

23+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English