Michelle Parsons

I am a licensed independent clinical social worker with extensive experience in trauma, grief and bereavement, hospice and palliative care, substance use, recovery, and major life transitions. I earned my Master of Social Work from Wheelock College, along with a Certificate in Medical Social Work, and later completed training in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy and Research through the California Institute of Integral Studies. I also have experience with ketamine-assisted psychotherapy and bring an integrative, trauma-informed perspective to my work. I especially enjoy working with adults who are ready to understand themselves more deeply and create meaningful, lasting change.

My approach is warm, collaborative, trauma-informed, and direct. I believe therapy should be a supportive space, but not a passive one—we will look honestly at the experiences, patterns, relationships, and beliefs that may be keeping you stuck. My work is shaped by years in grief, hospice, palliative care, trauma, and recovery, which taught me that healing does not always mean “fixing” what hurts. I strive to balance compassion with accountability while helping clients turn insight into meaningful change in their everyday lives.

Our first session is an opportunity for me to understand what brings you to therapy, what you have been carrying, and what you hope will be different as a result of our work together. I aim to create an environment where you can be honest without judgment and do not feel pressured to have everything figured out immediately. We will begin identifying patterns, strengths, and priorities while developing goals that feel meaningful and realistic for you. Most importantly, I want you to leave the first session with a clearer sense of where we can begin and whether I feel like the right therapeutic fit for you.