Michelle Morawiak

Michelle is a Massachusetts Board Licensed Certified Social Worker and an Independently Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselor with over seven years of dedicated service in the mental health and substance use arena. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Curry College and a Master's in Social Work from Boston University, with a concentrated focus on clinical practice. Michelle obtained a certification in the Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS) assessment tool, allowing her to specialize in adolescent care. She is committed to empowering young people through evidence-based therapeutic techniques, recognizing the unique challenges they face in their formative years.

Drawing on a person-centered approach, Michelle believes in abandoning punitive and adversarial methods in favor of creating a safe, honest, and collaborative therapeutic space. She places paramount importance on the patient-provider relationship as a cornerstone for therapeutic success, respecting each patient as the expert on their own life. This deep focus on building authentic therapeutic relationships has been instrumental in her work, particularly in the field of family therapy, where she employs systemic models to encourage open communication and relational growth. While Michelle has achieved significant success in treating substance use disorders, she understands that substance use often occurs alongside other co-occurring psychiatric conditions. In this light, she integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a mainstay in her practice to address not just addiction, but also a variety of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, personality disorders and PTSD. Michelle is proficient in identifying and treating these co-occurring conditions, aiming for a holistic approach to patient well-being.

Michelle is especially attuned to the complexities of self-esteem issues, taking a multi-faceted approach to foster resilience, self-compassion, and confidence among her patients. Her comprehensive and empathetic treatment style has been lauded by both patients and colleagues, making her a valued member of the Onward Psychiatry team. Her relentless pursuit of providing high-quality care has assisted numerous patients in achieving lasting sobriety and overall life satisfaction.

Contact: michelle@onwardpsychiatry.com