Michelle Parrella

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

“Gain Clarity, Build Confidence, and Live the Life You Want. If you’re committed to digging deep and taking action, this is the therapy practice you've been searching for. Online therapy in CA & WA, in-person in Santa Monica. ”

About Me

If you're a high achiever or deep feeler grappling with stress, anxiety, or burnout, you're not alone. I provide a supportive space where we can work collaboratively. Together, we'll address past trauma, build your confidence, and establish healthy boundaries. This process helps you feel calmer, clearer, and more connected, navigating life's demands with greater ease.

Approach

When overwhelm arrives, I help you notice what’s getting in the way and set gentle, achievable steps toward clearer priorities and safer boundaries. Sessions are in-person in Santa Monica or online across California and Washington, scheduled with a steady, paced rhythm that fits your work and life. I blend reflective exploration with body-aware processing and targeted techniques to process past wounds and build confident, sustainable skills for growth. This way of working often suits professionals carrying big responsibilities who want steadier presence.

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Basic Information

Santa Monica, United States

In-person & Online

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Services

I specialize in working with high-achieving professionals, entrepreneurs, and those carrying complex personal histories. My approach blends deep, meaningful conversations with real strategies you can use in your everyday life. Therapy isn’t just about coping—it’s about creating the life you actually want. For those wanting to accelerate their healing, ART or EMDR intensives offer a deep-dive experience, allowing you to make significant progress in a condensed timeframe—days instead of months. Whether you’re looking for a structured therapy plan or an intensive retreat-style session, ART and/or EMDR can help you move forward with a greater sense of ease.

Services Offered:

EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, a therapy that uses guided eye movements to help the brain process and integrate traumatic memories.
Learn more about EMDR
Psychodynamic Therapy
A therapy that explores how past experiences and unconscious patterns shape current feelings, relationships, and behaviour.
Learn more about Psychodynamic Therapy

Works With:

Adults
Individuals

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

Anxiety
Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.
Learn more about Anxiety
Grief & Loss
The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss.
Learn more about Grief & Loss
Stress / Burnout
The body and mind's response to prolonged or excessive demands. When sustained, it can lead to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and reduced functioning (burnout).
Learn more about Stress / Burnout
Career Issues
Work-related difficulties such as chronic dissatisfaction, conflict, burnout, uncertainty about direction, or the stress of career change.
LGBTQI+ Support
The unique psychological experiences of LGBTQI+ individuals, including identity exploration, coming out, discrimination, minority stress, and relationship dynamics.
Fertility Counseling
The emotional and psychological dimensions of fertility challenges, including the stress of treatment, pregnancy loss, and the impact on relationships.
Learn more about Fertility Counseling
Trauma
The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.
Learn more about Trauma
Trauma Therapy
Therapeutic approaches specifically designed to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences.
Learn more about Trauma Therapy
Women's Issues
Psychological challenges more commonly experienced by women, including gender-based stress, reproductive health concerns, body image, caregiving burden, and societal expectations.