Katy Michaels, LCSW — smiling portrait

About

Hi, I’m Katy

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the owner of Free To Be Psychotherapy. I created this practice so people could have a place that feels genuinely safe, affirming, and human.

Lived experience matters

I too have gone through the gauntlet and risen from the ashes. That lived experience shapes how I show up in the room. When a client asks for help to get to the other side — to a stronger, more beautiful version of themselves — I understand what that journey can feel like from the inside.

My identity as a transgender woman informs the deep respect I hold for every person’s right to define and live as themselves. I also bring clinical training, years of practice, and a commitment to evidence-based care.

How I see therapy

From the very beginning we start with why you are coming and what your goals are. My focus is providing a trusting, empathetic, safe, nurturing, and supportive environment.

My role as a therapist is to be a guide. You are the expert of your life. Together we work in a conversational setting, using approaches that actually help — Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I also share practical resources and recommended readings so the work continues between sessions.

I offer both in-person sessions in Palm Desert and virtual telehealth for individuals, couples, and families across California.

Credentials

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) — California License #112080

Additional background and training details available upon request.

Location

77564A Country Club Drive, Suite 242
Palm Desert, CA 92211

In-person and secure telehealth throughout California.

Let’s see if we’re a fit

A free consultation is a low-pressure way to meet, ask questions, and decide whether this feels right for you.

Request a Consultation