About Michelle Pappalardi, LCSW

Michelle Pappalardi is a licensed clinical social worker experienced in working with children, youth, and families. She worked with system-involved youth and families at the County of San Diego over 15 years before coming to PsyCare. Michelle earned her bachelors degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies at Antioch College in Ohio, and her masters degree in Social Work at San Diego State University in 2004. She is comfortable working with many populations, including abuse and trauma survivors, children and teens, clients in recovery, immigrants and refugees, LGBTQ/transgender clients, youth with mood, developmental, and behavioral challenges, young parents, and clients from multiple cultures.

Michelle’s therapeutic approach is nonjudgemental, person-centered, strengths-based, and eclectic. She offers a relaxed, empathetic space where clients can safely express themselves. Michelle uses her rapport with clients to encourage positive self-change. Depending on each client’s needs, Michelle uses methods from the following, and other, therapeutic models: Psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioral, Humanistic/Person-centered, Motivational Interviewing, Brief Solution-focused, Mindfulness, Trauma-focused, Family Systems, and Gottman Couples.

Michelle enjoys working with diverse individuals of all cultures, life-styles, ethnicities, spiritualities, sexualities, races, and gender identities. She collaborates with individuals, couples, and families to help them find the best solutions and resources to meet their specific needs.