Michelle Lepak LCSW

Michelle developed the Presence Psychotherapy trauma treatment model.  She has been clinical associate faculty at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Psychiatry, and has taught psychologists, social workers and LPCs trauma treatment at Rutgers University as well as postgraduate training institutes such as The National Institute for the Psychotherapies (NIP) and The Training Institute for Mental Health.  Michelle has published in the Journal of Integrative Psychotherapy, the International Journal of Trauma Care,  and the Journal of Hospital and Community Psychiatry.  Michelle is sought after speaker and presents internationally. The Presence Psychotherapy model is practiced in 7  countries.  Michelle is an an IFS Institute approved consultant and IFS certified therapist, is Level 2 EMDR trained, completed the three year Somatic Experiencig (SE)  training  and AEDP level 1.  Michelle has been a psychotherapist and meditator for over 30 years and maintains a private practice in Montclair, NJ  where she provides online consultation and training for psychotherapists.

Presentations and Published Journal Articles:

Lepak, M. M., & Carson, G. D. (2022). Presence psychotherapy: A novel integrative trauma treatment model for thorough memory reconsolidation. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 32(4), 426–442. https://doi.org/10.1037/int0000273

Lepak, M.M. Utilization of Presence Awareness in Trauma Therapy. Trauma Care 2022, 2, 589-599. https://doi.org/10.3390/traumacare2040049

Dissociation and Complex Trauma – Presented at the National Institute of the Psychotherapies. NY, NY.  April 2018.

Integrating Internal Family Systems (IFS) and EMDR.  Presented at the National Institute of the Psychotherapies, NY, NY April 2015.

Balancing Emotions during COVID.  Techniques from Internal Family Systems and Somatic Experiencing. Presented nationally at the NASW-NJ social work conference, April 2020.

IFS Consultant

Michelle provides consultation groups for therapists who want to deepen their knowledge and confidence doing Internal Family Systems therapy.  She is approved by the IFS Institute to provide consultation hours toward IFS certification for therapists who have completed level 1 IFS training.  Michelle  receives individual supervision from Richard Schwartz, developer of Internal Family Systems.