A place for true connection & real hope.
Meet therapist Diana Michelena | Supporting teens & adults in Queens, NY
You’re so tired of feeling like an outsider in your own life.
If you’ve been in therapy before, maybe you hit a wall or things just didn’t work out the way you hoped. You’ve always felt things deeply, perhaps didn’t fit the typical mold, and it’s left you wondering if there’s really a place where you’ll feel fully seen.
When you’re in the middle of a transition, navigating grief, or just trying to make sense of why life feels so daunting lately, it’s normal to want a space that doesn’t ask you to be someone you’re not—somewhere you don’t have to explain your identity or tone yourself down to be understood. You need a space where your questions are safe, your whole self is welcome, and the hope you’ve been looking for can start to come into focus.
It’s okay if you don’t have the words yet. We can start with what feels heavy.
The Way I Work
Even if you’ve been told you’re too sensitive, too intense, or too much, I see you differently.
I believe the way you feel, think, and relate holds deep meaning—and I take it seriously. There’s no need to come with everything organized or put together. (In fact, I’d rather you not!) Come just as you are. We’ll start with whatever’s showing up and move on from there.
My work is rooted in psychodynamic and relational therapy. That means we pay specific attention to your emotions, patterns, and past relationships, because the way we learn to survive often keeps shaping how we show up in our present lives. I listen closely for what’s underneath all of the noise: the grief, shame, disconnection, or self-doubt.
I help people who are navigating depression, anxiety, and any kind of emotional heaviness that doesn’t always show on the surface.
When you’re so used to moving through life on autopilot, it can be hard to even name what’s wrong. Many of my clients just know something’s “off.” It might look like overthinking, withdrawing, or feeling exhausted all the time—even when your life is full of creative work, meaningful projects, or things that are supposed to light you up. I know how to sit with that kind of pain or discomfort without judgment. I’m not afraid of the hard stuff, and I’ll be with you as we navigate it together.
Here, we’ll always move at your pace. I stay tuned in, reflect what I notice, and offer space to explore what maybe hasn’t felt safe to name before. Sometimes what matters most isn’t loud or obvious, but we follow it anyway. That’s where the real work is.
My Guiding Principles
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You don’t have to “have it all together” to be worthy of care. We start with whatever’s real for you right now.
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Every part of you and your experience is welcome. I ask questions to understand, not to fix.
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Our relationship is fundamental to your experience in therapy. The connection we build becomes the catalyst for healing and change.
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You’re not too much. I believe your emotions and personal complexity make sense. We’ll hold your whole story, not just the polished parts.
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I believe in your inner wisdom, even if it feels far away right now. Together, we’ll build the kind of trust that helps you believe in yourself, too.
Why “Dear Self?”
I chose the name Dear Self because so much of this work is about shifting the relationship you have with yourself. I work with so many incredible people who are thoughtful, creative, hard-working, and deeply reflective—but also incredibly hard on themselves. Dear Self is a chance to reconnect with your true voice, and to soften the tone of your inner dialogue. It’s an invitation to meet yourself with compassion—even when that doesn’t come easily.
This practice is meant to be a place where you can turn toward your inner world instead of away from it. A space to acknowledge all the parts of you—the critical ones, the protective ones, the hopeful ones—and begin understanding them rather than silencing them. My hope is that when life feels heavy or confusing, Dear Self is like a letter you can return to over and over again, reminding you that every part of you belongs.
Training & Education
As a licensed therapist, my work is rooted in psychodynamic and relational frameworks, with a focus on creating safe, attuned spaces for people navigating complex emotional experiences. I draw from a range of clinical approaches to meet each client with care, flexibility, and respect.
Licensed Mental Health Counselor with Diagnostic Privilege (LMHC-D)
Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from The City College of New York (CUNY)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Systemic Family Therapy
Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, IPTAR – New York
SAFETY (Safe Alternatives for Teens and Youths), a protocol for high-risk teens
BOOK FREE CONSULT
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BOOK FREE CONSULT ﹡
I’ll help you hold the hard stuff and remind you you’re already more worthy than you know.
Convenient sessions available in-person and online in Queens, NY.