Michelle Lepak, L.C.S.W.

Michelle Lepak, LCSW, developed the Presence Psychotherapy treatment model.  For over 20 years, Michelle has been dedicated to providing effective, embodied trauma treatment that is relationally attuned and mindfulness-oriented.  Integrating neuroscience, Buddhism, a vast range of spiritual practices, somatic inquiry, contemporary psychoanalytic concepts, attachment theory, and memory consolidation, Michelle created Presence Psychotherapy to offer a comprehensive spiritually-based treatment model.  The model’s integration of Presence Awareness emerged from Michelle’s personal experience as a meditator for 30 years.

The American Psychological Association published Michelle’s work in the Journal of Integrative Psychotherapy,  Presence Psychotherapy: A Novel Trauma Treatment Model for thorough Memory Reconsolidation.  The Presence Psychotherapy model has also been published in the International Journal of Trauma Care.

Michelle has been clinical associate faculty at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Psychiatry, has taught somatic based trauma treatment to postgraduate psychologists and social workers at Rutgers University, and the NYC postgraduate Training Institute of Mental Health, and multiple postgraduate institutes. She has presented at multiple conferences.  Michelle has completed three years of  Somatic Experiencing training, is trained in EMDR and AEDP, has completed three years of contemporary psychoanalytic training and is a Certified IFS therapist and approved IFS consultant.