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 in 2006 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 to this day still carry stigma. I became interested in how my patients were emotionally affected by their diagnoses and other life stressors. 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.
In 2014 I joined a mental health practice in Jackson Heights, Queens, one of NYC’s most diverse neighborhoods. I provided services in both English and Spanish, and that is where my interest in mental health continued to blossom. When I moved to California in 2016, I started doing tele-therapy with individuals coping with health and mental health comorbidities. This was pre-pandemic and before tele-health became a thing. I have joined several practices over the years and worked with people across the county in two of the most populated states. It has been exciting helping clients from all walks of life with a range of mental health concerns!
In 2021, I made a decision that would lead me to my current specialty. I had several encounters with clients experiencing OCD symptoms, who I had to refer out since this was not within my scope of practice. It took courage for these clients to reveal things that felt scary and shameful, only to refer them somewhere else. I didn’t want to continue doing that. I sought post-graduate training in the treatment of OCD so I could work with these clients myself. I learned how debilitating and misunderstood this mental health disorder could be.
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 here I am!
Professional Credentials:
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
California #81557; New York #079801
Columbia University - Master of Science in Social Work
State University of New York at Stony Brook - Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
Therapeutic Modalities:
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT)
Mindfulness-based therapy
Professional Affiliations:
Member of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
No matter which coast you’re in, I’d love to meet you!
I am licensed to meet virtually with clients in California or 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
Exercising
Having my personal space invaded by one or more boys
Hanging out by the pool or going to the beach
Snacking (see next block)
Reading self-help material
Watching psychological thrillers
Doing something crafty
I love to snack on:
Anything cheesy or chocolatey
Strawberry Häagen-Dazs ice cream
Ranch seasoned popcorn
Boba tea aka bubble tea
My simple pleasures include:
Family movie nights
Trips to Yogurtland
Snuggling one or more kids
Enjoying the California sun
Scenic drives
Hearing my kids giggling uncontrollably
Scrolling through funny reels from my besties
Fantasizing about upcoming travels
Stepping on crunchy leaves
My favorite way to quickly recharge is:
Getting lost to the beat of my 80’s/90’s 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 :)
