Michelle Baptista, MSW, LCSW
Clinical Therapist
I have over five years of experience in the mental health and social work field. I have worked in a wide range of settings such as long term care facilities, home/community based services, residential programs, schools, and private practice. I specialize in working with children and adolescents, as well as youth with trauma and youth in foster and adoptive care. My philosophy of practice is client centered, strengths based, empowerment based and solution focused. I also incorporate mindfulness and grounding techniques into my clinical work. My goal is to work collaboratively with clients and their support system to identify strengths and identify helpful resources in the community to provide the best overall treatment.
I graduated from Salve Regina University with my undergraduate degree in social work and then earned my master’s in social work from Rhode Island College.
In my undergraduate work as a social work intern, I provided case management services to older adults at the Village House Nursing Home and Rehab and then later worked with youth in residential treatment at St. Mary’s Home for Children. After graduating with my undergrad degree, I worked in the home/community based department as a case manager in the SAFFE program (Supporting Adoptive and Foster Families Everywhere) at St. Mary’s Home for Children supporting children and their families. Before beginning private practice, I also spent some time working in residential treatment with youth and adolescents who have experienced significant trauma and mental health challenges. My passion has always been supporting children and adolescents as well as empowering them in their strengths to be the best that they can be.
