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Michelle Fennessy, LCSW

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

Michelle is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

4.5 stars
Clients are very satisfied with Michelle. View 35 reviews
Speaks English
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in Florida

Recent reviews

This was my first time trying therapy and I am happy to say; Michelle has truly helped me navigate some of the toughest parts of my marriage. She is a great listener, has a positive perspective and a flexible style. She is both inquisitive and insightful, with an eagerness to help others that comes off as authentic and genuine. 10/10 highly recommend

Reviewed September 2024

Michelle has been such an aligned therapist for me. She is incredibly empathetic, encouraging, and has given me tools to navigate what brings me to therapy, without being prescriptive and impersonal. She is responsive to my messages, and generous with her time. I am so lucky to have connected with her on this platform!

Reviewed May 2024

More about Michelle

  • 20 years' experience
  • Female
  • LCSW

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Florida. I earned my Master's degree from Columbia University in New York, and my Bachelor of Psychology from Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts.

Reaching out for help takes courage and self- awareness, so if you're here I hope you give yourself credit for taking this important step to heal and transform, or simply to feel better. The idea of sharing your most private, painful, or even scary feelings with someone you don't know could be intimidating initially, especially if this is your first time in counseling----but I assure you----you're not alone.

Part of my graduate training to become a therapist required that I be a client myself (I may be biased but I think anyone could benefit from therapy). Even so, no matter how beneficial I believed psychotherapy to be, it always took me time to open up and finally feel safe enough to reveal the thoughts or feelings that bothered me about myself or my circumstances. The journey was always worth it.

As an experienced therapist now, I can tell you that each of us has a gift and I can see the beauty in a person early on, no matter what the concerns are. Most of the time we just want to know that we're not alone. You are a gift, you are not alone, and you deserve to feel better.

My particular areas of expertise are anxiety, depression, trauma and heartbreak. I work with people in "middle marriage" crisis. I help men and women modify addictive or self- destructive behaviors such as binge-eating, over- drinking, resisting the urge to text, call, or social media "stalk" someone they know isn't good for them. I specialize in the unique stressors of the ex-patriot life both psychotherapeutically and personally, having lived and worked abroad myself for many years.

My approach is rooted in the Strengths Perspective , Cognitive Behavioral, and Goal Oriented therapy. I am fascinated by Energy Psychology and I believe a shift to a thought or story that feels better, will change a person's energy enough to allow good things to flow to and from the individual. The key is to find the better feeling thought so that this can happen with ease.

Some clients come to me for help utilizing and understanding the role Law of Attraction can have in their lives for making their hopes and dreams manifest. Whatever your wish is for entering therapy, you deserve a life that you love and a life that loves you back. I believe I can help you feel better and achieve your heart's desires.

Specialties

Stress Anxiety Relationship issues Grief Self esteem Depression Addictions Family conflicts Trauma and abuse Intimacy-related issues Parenting issues Anger management Career difficulties Coping with life changes Compassion fatigue Abandonment Aging and geriatric issues Body image Cancer Caregiver issues and stress Codependency Commitment issues Divorce and separation Eating and food-related issues Emptiness Forgiveness Guilt and shame Impulsivity Infidelity Jealousy Life purpose Midlife crisis Panic disorder and panic attacks Postpartum depression Prejudice and discrimination Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling) Self-love Sex addiction Sexuality Women's issues

Treatment Approaches

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Mindfulness Therapy
  • Solution-Focused Therapy
  • Internal Family Systems

Licenses

Michelle Fennessy's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1326680604.

  • LCSW · Florida · SW 14710 · Expires March 2025

About online counseling

Affordable.
Pay a low flat fee.
Convenient.
Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
Available now.
There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.

Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.

Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.

Reviews for Michelle Fennessy

All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.

Overall rating:

4.5

35 reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Clients mention: The best Great Helpful Amazing Helped Thank you Caring Encouraging Supportive Understanding

This was my first time trying therapy and I am happy to say; Michelle has truly helped me navigate some of the toughest parts of my marriage. She is a great listener, has a positive perspective and a flexible style. She is both inquisitive and insightful, with an eagerness to help others that comes off as authentic and genuine. 10/10 highly recommend

Reviewed September 2024

Michelle has been such an aligned therapist for me. She is incredibly empathetic, encouraging, and has given me tools to navigate what brings me to therapy, without being prescriptive and impersonal. She is responsive to my messages, and generous with her time. I am so lucky to have connected with her on this platform!

Reviewed May 2024

Her upbeat and positive communication style feels relevant and sincere; brings great energy and fresh perspectives to every issue. Truly cares about her clients

Reviewed May 2024

Michelle is amazing. I have been with her for many years now and she has cured a lot of my traumas. I didn’t even know I had.

Reviewed November 2023

I am so grateful to have connected with Michelle for my therapy journey at this stage in life. She is so aligned with the types of approaches to psychotherapy that I value and believe in, and is empathetic, responsive, and encouraging. I leave feeling better and know she will have comforting words if I need to reach out in messages.

Reviewed August 2023

I’ve been working with Michelle now for three years and she has helped me grow so much. She’s very knowledgeable in her field and has the skill sets to guide people in the right direction.

Reviewed July 2022

The best you have !

Reviewed June 2022

Love Michelle, she is the best!

Reviewed June 2021

Michelle is phenomenal. Without a doubt the best counselor I ever had. She is very caring, supportive and understanding. The perfect person to help you grow. She always believes in you. Even if you don’t. Thank you so much Michelle ♡

Reviewed November 2019

Michelle is an amazing psychologist and can connect with people and know the exact right thing to say. She's judgement-free so you don't have to worry about spilling your guts. I am so impressed and love the ease of being able to communicate without the anxiety of a face-to-face session. Thanks Michelle!

Reviewed September 2019

Michelle is very nice and is very understanding.

Reviewed July 2019

Michelle is the best! She always brings out the voice of reason within me! I’ve internalized so much of her advice. It’s a way of living now!

Reviewed July 2019

I am so very grateful to have Michelle in my life and as my therapist. I have had countless therapists over the past 25 years...Michelle is the best!!!

Reviewed June 2019

Love her!!

Reviewed May 2019

Michelle is amazing - I've said it many times, she has changed my life and I am so glad that I found her. She is the real deal. Thank you Michelle :)

Reviewed December 2018

Michelle is absolutely amazing!

Reviewed September 2018

Michelle is the most empowering, encouraging, accessible, compassionate, talented, transformational and unique therapist that I have ever had. In very little time, I have accomplished a lot in my professional life, due to her numerous therapeutic skills. Thank you, Michelle! I feel fortunate to have her as my therapist!

Reviewed July 2018

Michelle is absolutely amazing! She helped me out whenever I needed her. I never felt judgement while in my sessions with her. She always understood me very well and gave me thoughtful and helpful advice. She is a very caring and kind person who encouraged me even when I was having a very difficult time. I would always recommend her! Thank you so much for all the help and healing you have given me and have helped me achieve!

Reviewed July 2018

Michelle is great, listens and never judges. She has a way of calming and understanding.

Reviewed July 2018

It has been a great experience! I am very glad I decided to talk to the professional and I was lucky that Michelle was my counselor. I got some really helpful advises and some tricks i will use further in my life. If i am lost again at some point, i would search for her support again!

Reviewed April 2018

Michelle’s been so wonderful, professional and kind. I value her advice greatly and see her as a role model in many ways :)

Reviewed April 2018

Michelle is very dedicated and has been very helpful. She will take you seriously and listen to your concerns.

Reviewed April 2018

Michelle is such a caring and supportive person. She has the best vibes! I'm constantly messaging her and she responds within just a few hours and she always has something soothing to say that makes you think twice about whatever you are going through and look at the problem from a different and more positive perspective. She always seems so excited to see me and to know what is going on, no matter how many people she has already seen that day. I was definitely needing the support I'm getting and I'm very thankful to her ♥️

Reviewed March 2018

A breath of fresh air in my life. She's capable of totally transforming the way you think about yourself, for the better. She's energetic, enthusiastic and compassionate, and makes this experience totally worthwhile.

Reviewed March 2018

If you are considering a therapist on here, look no further. Michelle is without a doubt the best. She is compassionate, highly intelligent and realistic. She doesn't say what you want to hear, she tells you what you need to hear. She has great understanding of life issues and thoroughly cares for her clients. I felt at ease with her right away. I came to her with some heart break stuff and through our sessions was able to move forward and move on with my life....which was exactly what I wanted. She is non-judgmental - just a real pro. You are lucky to have found her, as I was.

Reviewed February 2018

Michelle is kind and supportive. She offers different approaches to tackle issues and I feel confident and comfortable talking to her about anything.

Reviewed February 2018

I was feeling distressed, unhappy and confused. I didn't feel like I had anyone I could talk to. And I wanted help fast. Then online therapy popped into my head. I have been in therapy before and it was not easy getting a timely appointment or finding the right "fit." So I thought "What do I have to lose?" I really lucked out. Michelle responded right away. I immediately felt that I had someone there for me. Using the BetterHelp portal I wrote and wrote and wrote what I was feeling and information about my background that I thought would help Michelle know who I was. She responded quickly to each of my messages with supportive and encouraging words. Then I set up a phone session. I really liked her written replies but talking to her live was even better! She helped me to clarify my thoughts and to become more realistic about my situation. We've had 2 phone sessions so far and I am doing so much better. I think I was really lucky to get matched up with Michelle. I have been telling my family about my experience and they are amazed at how helpful Michelle has been to me.

Reviewed February 2018

Michelle is an excellent counselor, she is helpful and is always here to listen. She will help you work out everything that doesn’t work. She's the kind of person that really cares.

Reviewed January 2018

It’s a great help to have Michelle « in my pocket » through phone, because I’ve access to someone who’s present and available at anytime to listen to when I feel bad or anxious. Even if you don’t have an answer right away, the only fact of writing to her is a relief because you know you’ll be heard by someone and will be answered by a good heart. She has little tricks to help to deal bad thoughts and the good words to give confidence or relief me.

Reviewed January 2018

Michelle is great - she doesn’t take sides in arguments or concerns I have at home. She neutralizes them. I never thought online counseling would ever help but I find it more helpful as I can be more myself. Michelle is wonderful.

Reviewed January 2018

Excellent!

Reviewed January 2018

My Counsellor Michelle Fennessy is extremely good and helpful in resolving my issues. One thing about Michelle is that she speaks about what I think sitting few thousands of miles away which blows me away. I am very happy to confide my issues to her and wait for her quick response which gives me very good guidelines. I am able to come out of my issues rather quickly compared to my old counsellor who prescribed medication. Without any medication and personal attention, Michelle is able to treat me online. It is a wonderful experience and I am sure one would be benefitted if taken seriously. All the best.

Reviewed January 2018

Michelle is a wonderful counsellor and I'm so glad I was matched with her! She is kind and always responds with so much empathy. Her positivity is infectious. I always look forward to what she has to say; she is so insightful and knows straight away what the real issues are. She also does her best to reply to messages quickly, even on weekends. Michelle is someone who genuinely cares.

Reviewed January 2018

I liked very much all the support Michelle Fennessy gave me. I have no words to describe how important it was to talk to her. She answered all my questions in a short time and went directly to the point. The service as a whole was excellent for me because I travel a lot, so I sent messages to her in my free time, which was different in each day. A face-to-face therapy would not allow me to do that. Thank you very much for all your help, Michelle! It really was the Better Help! ahahaha

Reviewed November 2017

I found out about BetterHelp through the Mental Illness Happy Hour. Very thankful! Michelle is a very caring counselor and I'm looking forward to continuing our work together.

Reviewed November 2017

How was your experience with Michelle?

Frequently asked questions

Does Michelle Fennessy offer telehealth visits?

Yes. Michelle Fennessy works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.

What language(s) does Michelle Fennessy speak?

Michelle Fennessy speaks English.

How many years of experience does Michelle Fennessy have?

Michelle Fennessy has 20 years of experience.

Where is Michelle Fennessy licensed to practice?

Michelle Fennessy is licensed to practice in Florida.

Does Michelle Fennessy accept clients outside of the United States?

Yes, Michelle Fennessy accepts clients outside of the United States.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."

What treatment approaches does Michelle Fennessy offer?

Michelle Fennessy offers clients Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems.

How can I communicate with Michelle Fennessy?

Michelle Fennessy can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.

How do I get started with Michelle Fennessy?

Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
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When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.