Founder/Clinical Director
Hi, I’m Michele Wiest-Alvarez, MSSW, LCSW. I’m a licensed clinical social worker specializing in developmental trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. I believe therapy should feel safe, genuine, and deeply human—a place where you can begin to understand not only what you are experiencing, but also how past experiences may continue to shape the way you feel, think, relate to others, and move through the world.
I have a particular interest in helping adults heal from developmental trauma and long-standing emotional patterns that may have their roots in childhood, relationships, or other difficult life experiences. Trauma can show up in many ways, including anxiety, depression, difficulty trusting others, emotional overwhelm, self-criticism, relationship struggles, or simply feeling stuck despite understanding intellectually why certain patterns exist.
My approach to trauma therapy is holistic, compassionate, and individualized. I primarily incorporate Internal Family Systems (IFS), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), the NeuroAffective Relational Model (NARM), and mindfulness-based practices. These approaches allow us to look beyond symptoms and explore the deeper patterns, experiences, and relational dynamics that may be contributing to emotional distress.
IFS can help clients approach different parts of themselves with greater curiosity and self-compassion. EMDR can support the processing of traumatic or distressing experiences that continue to affect the present. NARM is especially helpful in addressing developmental and relational trauma by exploring patterns related to connection, identity, emotional regulation, and self-worth. Mindfulness can support greater awareness, grounding, and the ability to respond differently to difficult thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
My goal is to create a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where you can feel comfortable being fully yourself. I bring compassion, authenticity, creativity, and humor into the therapeutic relationship and believe that trust and connection are essential parts of meaningful healing.
If you are experiencing the effects of developmental trauma, PTSD, anxiety, or depression, therapy can offer an opportunity to better understand your story, heal painful patterns, and develop a more compassionate relationship with yourself. I’m here to walk alongside you as you work toward greater emotional healing, connection, and a stronger sense of self.
