About Michelle
Michelle Gomez-Salazar, LCSW
Hi there! My name is Michelle (she/her) and I’m so glad you’re here.
My passion is helping clients thrive in their fears and be less judgmental of themselves. I work with adults coping with OCD, anxiety, perfectionism, and self-doubt. Many of my clients come to me feeling disempowered, inadequate in their lives, and overtaken by their overactive and self-critical mind.
As a recovering perfectionist and socially anxious person, I understand that struggle.I know what it’s like to put in so much, but feel like you’re spinning your wheels at the same time. And I believe that you have what it takes to get to the other side.
How will we work together?
Throughout our work together, I’ll be here to help you navigate the challenges and celebrate the wins along the way. I view our work as a collaboration. We will brainstorm together, I’ll share my feedback/observations, and I may give you a nudge when I think it could be helpful. But I won’t ever tell you what to do or push you beyond your readiness- you’ll always have a say in that. I find that the best progress takes place when clients are willing to put some practice in between sessions. We’ll routinely discuss achievable steps that you can take to keep the momentum in our work going. My hope is for you to eventually feel capable of independently implementing what you learn in our sessions, out in the real world.
I value the therapeutic relationship with each of my clients and believe that trust and openness are essential. I’ll do my best to create an environment where you can be your genuine self. If something is feeling a bit off, let’s talk about it and figure out a way to improve it. The entire palette of human emotions is welcome in our space together. While things may get heavy at times, there is also plenty of room for laughter during the process. My style is warm, humorous, and authentic.
What is my professional experience?
I started my career as a medical social worker at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. During my 7 years working at the hospital’s HIV/AIDS clinic, I had the privilege of supporting individuals living with diagnoses that are misunderstood and carry so much shame and stigma. My particular role did not allow me to delve into some of the mental health issues that my patients were facing as much as I would’ve liked, and I was left with the desire to do more in this capacity.
I took a deeper dive into mental health and joined a group practice in Jackson Heights, Queens, one of NYC’s most diverse neighborhoods. I provided services in both English and Spanish, and my interest in mental health continued to blossom. I moved to California in 2016, and I started doing teletherapy with individuals coping with health and mental health comorbidities. This was pre-pandemic and before telehealth became a thing. Since then, I have joined other telehealth practices and worked with people across CA and NY. It has been exciting helping clients from all walks of life with a range of mental health concerns!
However, it was the pandemic that led me to my current specialty of OCD. I noticed more and more individuals with OCD-like symptoms seeking services during this time. Each time I referred one of them out, I was left thinking about how much courage it took to reveal things that felt so scary, taboo, and shameful. And then to be passed to another provider, feeling all vulnerable, to start all over again. I got curious and decided to seek out post-graduate training in the treatment of OCD. I learned how debilitating and misunderstood this mental health disorder is, and how often it is misdiagnosed and mistreated.
I joined NOCD, where I worked exclusively with clients who were often silently tormented by their OCD. I utilized ERP as the primary treatment modality and saw how life-changing treatment was for my clients. This developed into a strong interest and specialty area for me. I eventually decided to continue this work in my own practice and also added I-CBT as another treatment option for my clients. And here I am!
Professional Credentials:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
California #81557
New York #079801
Master of Science in Social Work - Columbia University School of Social Work
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - State University of New York at Stony Brook
Therapeutic Modalities:
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Mindfulness-based therapy
Select Specialized Trainings:
ACT Immersion - Dr. Stephen Hayes via Praxis; September 2021
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for OCD - Massachusetts General Hospital; Oct 2021
4-Day Intensive Workshop: ERP Therapy for OCD - Cognitive Behavior Institute (CBI); January 2022
ACT for Depression and Anxiety - Dr. Russ Harris via Psychwire; June 2022
OCD Provider Training - NOCD; April 2022
Comprehensive I-CBT Basic Training - OCD Training School; May 2024
OCD from a Neuroaffirming Perspective using I-CBT - Cognitive Behavior Institute (CBI); October 2024
Virtual BTTI in Spanish - International OCD Foundation; December 2024
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Mastery Course - Dr. Kathleen Chard via PESI; November 2025
Professional Affiliations:
Member of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
No matter which coast you’re on, I’d love to meet you!
I am licensed to work with clients in California and New York.
Who am I on a personal level?
I am a cisgender, heterosexual, Latina woman, married to my scientist husband, and mother to 3 boys. I was born and raised in Queens, New York, and have lived there most of my life. My home since 2016 has been Orange County in Southern California. Read below for some fun facts!
When I’m not in session, you can find me:
Juggling mom duties
At Orangetheory Fitness
Having my personal space invaded by one or more boys
Snacking
Reading self-help and clinical books
Watching psychological thrillers
Doing something crafty
I love to snack on:
Anything cheesy or chocolatey
Strawberry Häagen-Dazs ice cream
Ranch seasoned popcorn
Matcha lattes or Matcha milk tea with boba
Dried mangoes
My simple pleasures include:
Family movie nights
Trips to Yogurtland
Scenic drives
Snuggles with one or more kids
Uncontrollable little giggles
Reel and meme conversations with my besties
Fantasizing about upcoming travels
Stepping on crunchy leaves
My favorite way to quickly recharge is:
Getting lost to the beat of my 80s/90s jams, alone, during my daily car drives. Sometimes I turn up the volume a little loud and sing along, even when I don’t know all the lyrics :)
