Michelle Pappalardi, MSW, LCSW,
About Michelle Pappalardi (She/Her)
Michelle Pappalardi is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) that has experience working with children, youth, adults, couples, and families. She worked with system-involved youth and families at the County of San Diego over 15 years before coming to Lifestance Health, Inc. Michelle earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies at Antioch College in Ohio, her master’s degree in Social Work at San Diego State University in 2004, and became licensed to practice therapy in 2013. She is comfortable working with many populations, including abuse and trauma survivors, youth and teens, seniors, clients in recovery, immigrants and refugees, LGBTQ+ clients, parents, and clients from various nationalities and cultures. Michelle’s therapeutic approach is nonjudgmental, 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, Internal Family Systems, and Gottman Couples Therapy. Michelle enjoys working with diverse individuals of all cultures, lifestyles, 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 therapeutic needs.
Types of Care & Ages Served
- Couples Therapy: Ages 18-75+
- Family Therapy: Ages 15-75+
- Individual Therapy: Ages 15-75+
Areas of Focus
Couples Therapy
Helps partners address relationship conflict and improve communication with a clinician's guidance.
- LGBTQ+
- Social injustice
- Ability status
- Adoption & foster care
- Anger issues
- Anxiety
- Attachment issues
- Career & relationships (mid-life)
- Caregiving
- Depression/feeling down
- Domestic violence & abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Empty nesters
- Ethnic identity
- Family conflict
- Fertility
- Focus, concentration & memory
- Gender identity
- General relationship issues
- Grief & loss
- Immigration/cultural status
- Marital stress or divorce
- Menopause & perimenopause
- Other women's health concerns
- Panic attacks
- Parenthood
- Parenting
- PMS & PMDD
- Post-partum depression & anxiety
- Pre-conception
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy loss
- Premarital counseling
- Racial identity
- Self-esteem
- Sex & intimacy issues
- Sexual trauma
- Social skills & communication
- Stress management
- Trauma & PTSD
Family Therapy
Improve communication and resolve conflicts within family dynamics with a clinician's guidance.
- Family conflict
- LGBTQ+
- Social skills & communication
- Ability status
- Adoption & foster care
- Anger issues
- Anxiety
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar Disorder
- Body image
- Career & relationships (mid-life)
- Caregiving
- Childhood behavioral issues
- Depression/feeling down
- Domestic violence & abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Empty nesters
- Ethnic identity
- Fertility
- Focus, concentration & memory
- Gender identity
- General relationship issues
- Grief & loss
- Hoarding
- Immigration/cultural status
- Intense mood changes
- Marital stress or divorce
- Menopause & perimenopause
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Other women's health concerns
- Panic attacks
- Parenthood
- Parenting
- Phobias
- PMS & PMDD
- Post-partum depression & anxiety
- Pre-conception
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy loss
- Premarital counseling
- Racial identity
- School behavioral issues
- Self-esteem
- Self-injury or cutting
- Sexual trauma
- Social injustice
- Stress management
- Trauma & PTSD
Individual Therapy
Get help addressing challenges and improve well-being with a clinician's guidance.
- Focus, concentration & memory
- Gender identity
- LGBTQ+
- Menopause & perimenopause
- Other women's health concerns
- PMS & PMDD
- Adoption & foster care
- Aging
- Anger issues
- Anxiety
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar Disorder
- Body image
- Career & relationships (mid-life)
- Career & work issues
- Caregiving
- Depression/feeling down
- Domestic violence & abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Empty nesters
- Ethnic identity
- Family conflict
- Fertility
- General relationship issues
- Grief & loss
- Immigration/cultural status
- Intense mood changes
- Marital stress or divorce
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Panic attacks
- Parenthood
- Parenting
- Phobias
- Post-partum depression & anxiety
- Pre-conception
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy loss
- Premarital counseling
- Racial identity
- Retirement
- Self-esteem
- Self-injury or cutting
- Sexual trauma
- Social injustice
- Social skills & communication
- Stress management
- Trauma & PTSD
Therapy Types
- ACT Therapy
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
- EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy)
- ERP Therapy
- Gottman Method
- Humanistic Therapy
- Mindfulness-Based Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing (MI)
- Narrative Therapy
- Parenting Support
- Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
- Strength-Based Therapy
Insurances Accepted
- Aetna
- Blue Shield of California (D)
- Carelon (Beacon)
- Centivo
- Central Health Plan of California
- Claritev (MultiPlan PHCS)
- Devoted Health Plan
- Elevance Health (Anthem BC) (D)
- Evernorth (Cigna)
- Health Net
- HealthSmart
- Humana
- Kaiser Permanente (NorCal)
- Kaiser Permanente (SoCal)
- Lakeside Medical (Regal Medical)
- MediNcrease Health Plans (MHP)
- Medicare
- Northwell Direct
- Optum (UnitedHealthcare)
- Partners Direct Health
- Provider Network of America (PNOA)
- Quest Behavioral Health
- Sana Benefits
- TELUS Health (BHS)
Languages
- English
Education
- Bucks County Community College
- San Diego State University
- Antioch University
Locations
Get Directions
619-272-8387
858-430-2568
New patient?
Check availability and book your first appointment View Availability Call To Book Using Medicare
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Frequently Asked
Questions About
Michelle Pappalardi
Please use our online form to schedule an appointment with Michelle Pappalardi. You can also call 619-272-8387 to have someone assist you.
Michelle Pappalardi generally accepts new patients but there could be a waitlist. Please call 619-272-8387 to find out Michelle Pappalardi's schedule and availability.
LifeStance Health providers accept most commercial insurance plans that are offered in the states where we offer services, including telehealth. Please see the following list of insurances accepted by Michelle Pappalardi:
- Aetna
- Blue Shield of California (D)
- Carelon (Beacon)
- Centivo
- Central Health Plan of California
- Claritev (MultiPlan PHCS)
- Devoted Health Plan
- Elevance Health (Anthem BC) (D)
- Evernorth (Cigna)
- Health Net
- HealthSmart
- Humana
- Kaiser Permanente (NorCal)
- Kaiser Permanente (SoCal)
- Lakeside Medical (Regal Medical)
- MediNcrease Health Plans (MHP)
- Medicare
- Northwell Direct
- Optum (UnitedHealthcare)
- Partners Direct Health
- Provider Network of America (PNOA)
- Quest Behavioral Health
- Sana Benefits
- TELUS Health (BHS)
If you don't see your insurance listed, please contact us at 619-272-8387 to see how we can help.
Michelle Pappalardi is a Therapist and cannot prescribe medication. However, most LifeStance offices have a Psychiatrist or APN on staff who can prescribe medication if needed.
Michelle Pappalardi works at:
Yes, Michelle Pappalardi does offer online telehealth visits.
Yes, Michelle Pappalardi is currently offering in-office visits at the following location:
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