Debra Sumowski, LCSW
Michelle is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW-A) who earned her master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of North Carolina Wilmington in May 2024. She obtained her associate licenses in North Carolina and Massachusetts and began practicing in December 2025 at a private practice, working with clients ages 10 and up. Her professional journey has been shaped by living and serving in multiple states—growing up on Long Island, New York, studying and working in Florida, and completing her graduate training in Wilmington, North Carolina. These experiences exposed her to a wide variety of communities, helping her develop a deep understanding of diverse populations and the unique challenges they face. In addition to her clinical work, Michelle is trained as a biofeedback and neurofeedback technician.
Michelle’s approach to therapy is grounded in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), solution-focused strategies, and a strengths-based lens. She creates a collaborative, non-judgmental space where clients feel seen, heard, and supported. Michelle works closely with clients to reframe unhelpful thought patterns, build resilience, and develop practical skills to navigate life’s challenges. Her work focuses on anxiety, depression, self-esteem, narcissistic abuse, ADHD, and communication skills, always emphasizing empowerment and active participation in the therapeutic process.
Beyond her clinical practice, Michelle is passionate about lifelong learning and professional growth. She draws on her diverse experiences to serve clients with authenticity and insight while continually expanding her knowledge. Looking ahead, she hopes to combine her counseling work with teaching in a college setting, sharing her expertise and mentorship with the next generation of social workers. Her ultimate goal is to create meaningful, sustainable change in the lives of the clients and communities she serves.
• Bachelor's in Social Work, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, 2023
• Master's in Clinical Social Work, University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), 2024
• LCSWA
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (Massachusetts)
• National Association of Social Workers
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Self-esteem
- Narcissistic abuse
- ADHD
- Communication skills
- Biofeedback
- Neurofeedback
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
What I enjoy most is when a client leaves a session and they say that they feel better than when they came in, or that they learned something new, or when they have an aha moment in a session. It really makes me feel like I did something with my time and helped them and gave them tools and knowledge. Those moments when clients have breakthroughs or feel they've gained something meaningful from our time together are what make this work so rewarding for me.