My name is Michelle Reyes-Leal and I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). For both my Bachelors and Masters education, I attended California State University, Northridge. My bachelors is in Social Welfare and Justice with a minor in gender studies and another minor in family studies. My masters is in Social Work.
My passion for counseling comes from my passion for social justice. I believe that our social identities impact our experience in the world and believe it is crucial to talk about how those identities impact mental health. Over the years I’ve worked with various demographics from victims of human trafficking to people in jail to college students to the Spanish speaking community.
My therapy superpower is making clients feel comfortable whether it’s through jokes, remembering small details they shared, or just by consistently being as compassionate as possible. Having a strong bond with a client is important to me because it means that I am creating a safe space for my client, which I believe is the first step in healing.
I can sense that a client and I are a good fit when my client feels comfortable during sessions to not only share but also feel comfortable asking questions, asking for clarifications, and providing feedback — as I think honesty and transparency build the necessary relationship to help clients get from feeling stuck to “moving mountains.” In my spare time, you can find me reading or being outside in nature, as I love to camp and hike.
