Michelle Lepak LCSW
   
Michelle has developed the Presence Psychotherapy 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 Hospital and Community.   Michelle has been a psychotherapist and meditator for 30 years and maintains a private practice in Montclair, NJ  where she provides consultation and training for therapists.
 
Michelle received her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania in 1989.  She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Delaware Honors program with a Degree with Distinction in psychology. 

Papers Presented:

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

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

Balancing Emotions during COVID.  Presented nationally at the NASW-NJ social work conference, April 2020.

 

 

Certifications and Postgraduate Education:
 
Internal Family Systems (IFS) -. Approved Consultant.
Internal Family Systems Certified therapist.                                                                                                      
Somatic Experiencing (SE): Advanced Practitioner.                                      
Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy      (AEDP):  Certified Level 1 therapist.                                                               
Psycho-analytically trained.  National Institute for the Psychotherapies, (NIP), NY, NY. 1998-2001.
                                    

EMDR:  Completed levels 1 and 2.

 

Michelle provides consultation groups for trauma therapists.  Michelle is approved by the IFS Institute to provide consultation hours and offers consultation groups toward IFS certification for therapists who have completed IFS Level 1 training.

Additional info:

Body/Mind healing.  Month long intensive  in assessment and healing of body-held experience.  Esalen Institute, Big Sur, CA.

Restorative Yoga Teacher Training.  3 day restorative teacher training with Jillian Pransky.

Michelle is a long time meditator in multiple traditions.