Meet Natalia Michaelson (she/her)
A soft place to land as you navigate the hard things.
LICENSED THERAPIST IN ORANGE COUNTY & ACROSS CA, MA, & OH
You’re here because you’re tired of feeling like you’re on the sidelines of your life. Deep down, there’s a part of you that knows you want something different.
Together, we’ll make space for all of it—the chaos, the emotions, the shame, the depth, & mostly importantly, your humanity.
The overwhelm you feel right now doesn’t have to last forever.
You’re tired of navigating things alone. Here, connection is at the forefront of our work.
I believe that the foundation of good therapy is a real relationship—one built over time with empathy, humor (when appropriate), and deep trust.
I’ve had clients start a story with, “I know you won’t judge me, but…” and proceed to share something that brings up shame for them. Moments like these show me that we’ve built something meaningful. That kind of safety and trust matters.
In our work together, I want you to feel like you can exhale and just be.
No pretending.
No performing.
Just honesty, even about the hard stuff.
You don’t have to brace yourself or second-guess how you’ll be received. You’ll be met with care, not judgment and we’ll take it one step at a time, together.
When you step into the therapy space, all of you—your intersecting identities, stories, and emotions—all have a place here.
I center social justice values in my work, and I hold deep awareness of how systems of power and oppression impact each of us differently. Your intersectional identities won’t just be acknowledged, they’ll be respected and honored.
My approach is highly collaborative. We’ll move at your pace and I’ll be right alongside you to guide us where you’re wanting to go. Together we’ll figure out what you’re ready to work on and what we might need more time to get into. If something doesn’t feel right, we’ll pause, adapt, and shift course.
You’re not getting some robotic, blank-slate therapist.
You’re getting a real human who will show up as curious, compassionate, sometimes lighthearted, and always respectful. I’ll laugh with you, I’ll sit with the hard stuff, and I’ll never ask you to go somewhere you’re not ready to go. I’ll ask thoughtful questions, hold space for your emotions, and help us stay on track together. Because this work is hard, but also centers your humanity.
In therapy with me, we will combine…
Your inner wisdom (if you don’t feel like you have access to it, that’s okay…I can help with that!)
My knowledge gained through education, training, professional experience, and lived experience.
…to create lasting change and help you feel more at peace, calm, and confident in your life.
All parts of you are welcome here, the:
sassy or sarcastic parts
anxious parts
ones that make jokes when you’re uncomfortable
ones that cry
skeptical ones that don’t trust easily
awkward ones
They’re all a part of you and I’m here to dive in and help you make sense of it all. This work is relational, deep, and meaningful.
I’ll make space for all of you, not just the versions of you that you’ve been taught are “acceptable,” “likeable,” or “loveable.”
I will meet all of your parts, including the ones that you may not like, with compassion and openness to understand.
If you’re stuck in the same patterns and you want out of the cycle, but don’t know how to get there, I’m confident we can figure it out together!
What it’s like to work with me
Life and relationships can be complicated, period. Relationships with other people, with yourself, food, and body image can all feel pretty overwhelming to manage.
This is further compounded if you’re navigating the world in a body that gets marginalized and othered.
I get that it can feel heavy. You deserve a therapist who is willing to listen with curiosity and warmth, without questioning your lived experience. I want you to know that your story will be held with deep care. I believe you and I’ll hold space for all of the hard stuff.
As a biracial therapist with lived experience in eating disorder and trauma recovery, I bring both personal understanding and professional expertise to my work.
I’ve witnessed the impact systemic oppression can have on both privileged and marginalized identities. I’ve learned ways in which it can disrupt the relationships we have with ourselves, our bodies, and other people.
I recognize that these relationships can be complex, nuanced, and unique.
Healing and recovery takes time, spaciousness, and tools. I’m here to help you gain access to these so you deepen your connection to yourself and shift the way you navigate the world and your relationships.
You need someone who gets it. You want to feel less alone in your struggle.
You’ve experienced so much pain in your relationships, I want to make sure ours is a place for healing.
My Background
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Internal Family Systems (IFS): Involves learning and understanding more about different parts of you to deepen healing and experience internal harmony. Learn more about IFS.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): Provides tools and skill building to cope with distress, increase mindfulness, regulate emotions, and navigate interpersonal relationships.
Acceptance and Committment Therapy (ACT): Offers mindfulness tools to increase self-acceptance and feel more aligned with personal values.
Brainspotting: Utilizes your visual field to process emotions and experiences that are held in the body to create relief and inner peace. Learn more about brainspotting.
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PHP/IOP eating disorder treatment work experience
2500+ hours of supervision in treatment of eating disorders
Brainspotting: Level I & II, Dissociative Identity Phenomena and Inner Parts Work
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Level 1
Emotional Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) Essentials- Levels 1 + 2
Body Trust Certification- in progress
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Master of Social Work (MSW) from Simmons University
Bachelor’s of Arts (BA) from California State University, San Marcos
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California: LCSW #127094
Massachusetts: LICSW #1121400
Ohio: LISW #I.2406119
You want your life to look different, I want to help you get there.
