Michele T. Summers, LCSW PLLC
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
516-981-3735
In-person and tele-health sessions provided for all NY state residents
Compassionate therapy for teens, young adults, and the parents who love them.
Welcome.
I’m Michele, and I am a trauma-informed Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience. I'm committed to helping individuals and families who are navigating anxiety, depression, trauma and life transitions. With extensive experience in child-welfare, family court systems and educational settings, I bring a deep understanding of complex challenges faced by young people and their families- especially those impacted by instability, loss or systemic pressures. I have spent years learning and studying about attachment theories, personality disorders and C-PTSD.
I am also certified as a Family Reunification Therapy Specialist. I work with court-involved and high-conflict families to help repair and restore relationships between parents and children when those relationships have been disrupted by separation, divorce, estrangement or parental alienation. This structured therapeutic process focuses on rebuilding trust, improving communication, and supporting the safe reestablishment in the parent-child relationship.
I use a mixture of strategies to help connect with my clients, such as evidenced-based engagement strategies, mindfulness practices, somatic exercises, and interactive techniques such as deep breathing and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT tapping). Together I work with my clients help them build emotional regulation skills, strengthen self-awareness and create healthier patterns in their daily lives.
Whether I'm supporting a young person finding their voice, guiding a parent through a difficult season, or helping an adult move through long-standing anxiety or depression, I am committed to offering therapy that is empathetic, effective and truly transformative.
"Talking about it actually helps. That's when things start to feel lighter" ~ Shawn Mendes
You don't have to do this alone....
What I help with....
* Anxiety (generalized, social, performance)
* Depression and mood regulation
* Family separation/divorce
* Court ordered/mandated therapy
* CPS, Probation, PINs, Family Court
* School avoidance/school refusal
* Self-injurious behavior
* Screen/phone dependency
* Bullying/cyber-bullying
* Learning disabilities (Special Ed., IEPs, 504 plans)
Specialties and expertise
* Parental Alienation/ Estrangement
* Adverse childhood experience
* Attachment Disorders
* Personality Disorders
* High conflict divorce/ custody issues
Trauma and attachment:
How I help....
* Cognitive Therapy
* Talk therapy
* Family engagement/reconciliation therapy
* Walk and talk therapy
* Guided meditations and mindfulness
* Somatic and Vagus Nerve Exercises
* Mediation and advocacy
* Co-parenting coaching services
01.
Michele offers individual therapy sessions tailored to address the specific emotional needs of each client. Through a client-centered approach, Michele provides a safe and supportive environment to explore and work through personal challenges.
Michele has extensive knowledge in regards to adverse childhood trauma, attachment issues, mental illness and personality disorders.
Michele is trauma informed and has been trained in several modalities, in order to tailor sessions to your needs.
02.
Michele works with families to better enhance their communication and perspectives. She provides a safe space for each individual to be heard. She helps families practice boundary setting, acts of gratitude and healthy ways to express affection. Every voice has a chance to be heard and recognized within the family unit.
Family Reunification therapy is used when emotional safety and trust needs to be repaired between a child(ren) and a parent. Each family member will be assessed prior to intake in regard to their willingness to participate.
03.
Michele provides a judgement free space to give caregivers room to process the stress that comes from being a parent. She works collaboratively with parents to strengthen attachment, improve communication and develop practical strategies to manage challenging behaviors.
Michele also works with parents who need to co-parent in high conflict divorce cases. She provides a structured, neutral space to establish healthy boundaries, increase consistency across households, and support cooperative co-parenting in the best interest of the child.
Insurance accepted
*Aetna * Blue Cross Blue Shield
*Cigna * Quest Behavioral Health
* Carelon Behavioral Health * Anthem EAP
* Self Pay also accepted
Out-of-network services available. I'm happy to provide invoices (superbills) upon request for insurance reimbursement.