Michelle Pichardo

Licensed Clinical Social Worker with specialized training in perinatal mental health, trauma, and family systems. Founder of Mindful Intentions, LLC, a thriving group private practice offering holistic, culturally competent care to individuals and families. University educator passionate about empowering clients, mentoring clinicians, and creating community-based wellness programs that foster healing and connection.

Founder & Clinical Executive Director - Mindful Intentions LLC

(2019-03)

• Founded and oversee a thriving group private practice, providing strategic leadership, business development, and clinical direction.
• Deliver family-centered, strengths-based, and culturally competent psychotherapy for children, adolescents, and adults in-person and via telehealth, maintaining an active caseload of 30 clients.
• Supervise, mentor, and manage a team of 11 licensed clinicians, ensuring high-quality care, professional growth, and adherence to ethical standards.
• Administer all business operations including budgeting, payroll, compliance with state and federal tax regulations, and oversight of electronic health record (EHR) systems.
• Develop and facilitate wellness workshops, therapeutic groups, and community programs, including mindfulness-based workshops, restorative yoga, women's empowerment groups, and postpartum support groups.
• Specialize in perinatal mental health, trauma, anxiety, and women's issues, with a focus on holistic and integrative approaches to healing.

Adjunct Professor - Montclair State University

(2022-01 - 2024-05)

• Taught SOC 100: Principles of Sociology within the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund program, supporting inner-city youth in their transition from high school to college through a dual enrollment model.
• Designed, revised, and implemented course syllabi, aligning curriculum with program goals and student needs.
• Planned and facilitated engaging lectures, class discussions, and learning activities to promote critical thinking and student participation.
• Collaborated with a multidisciplinary team of professors, success coaches, tutors, and public school officials to deliver individualized academic and personal support for up to 20 students per semester.

Adjunct Professor - William Paterson University

(2018-09 - 2020-05)

• Developed and managed the course syllabus for SOC 2240: Social Work Practice and Policy, aligning content with departmental objectives and accreditation standards.
• Integrated real-world clinical and social work experience into lectures, discussions, and assignments to deepen student understanding of theory-to-practice application.
• Designed and facilitated lectures, interactive class discussions, and experiential learning activities to strengthen engagement and critical thinking.
• Supervised and coordinated fieldwork experiences, building partnerships between community organizations and students to provide hands-on learning and professional development.
• Created, assigned, and evaluated exams, papers, and projects while providing individualized feedback to support student academic growth and professional readiness.
• Assessed overall student performance through participation, coursework, and examinations, maintaining fair and transparent grading practices.

School Counselor - John P. Holland Charter School

(2018-09 - 2019-06)

• Delivered individual and group play therapy sessions for children ages 3–5, using a trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate approach to support social-emotional growth and early learning.
• Developed and adapted individualized treatment plans based on student progress, family context, and clinical assessment.
• Partnered with parents and caregivers to provide education on treatment procedures, while promoting positive parenting skills grounded in family-systems theory.
• Facilitated parent workshops and discussions to strengthen parent–child relationships, improve communication, and build resilience within families.
• Provided culturally competent counseling services to a diverse student population, ensuring inclusive, strengths-based support tailored to each family's background and needs.

Intensive In-Community Clinician - M& S Psychotherapy and Counseling

(2016-08 - 2020-04)

• Delivered crisis intervention and intensive in-home psychotherapy to children and adolescents (ages 3–21) with behavioral, emotional, and intellectual/developmental disabilities.
• Provided individual and family therapy to strengthen relationships, nurture positive change, and enhance family functioning through a systems-based approach.
• Designed and implemented interventions including psychoeducation, emotional regulation strategies, stress management techniques, conflict resolution training, and coping skill development.
• Utilized a trauma-informed and culturally competent framework to ensure interventions were accessible, inclusive, and tailored to the unique needs of diverse families.
• Collaborated with schools, case managers, and community providers to coordinate care and support long-term stability for youth and families.

Developmental Interventionist & Social Worker - Sunny Days, Inc

(2018-05 - 2019-05)

• Provided early intervention services for children ages newborn to 3, designing play-based activities to promote language, social-emotional, cognitive, and motor skill development.
• Partnered with parents and caregivers, offering coaching and modeling strategies to integrate therapeutic activities into daily routines and foster long-term developmental progress.
• Conducted comprehensive family assessments to identify strengths, needs, and barriers, ensuring individualized and effective service planning.
• Connected families with appropriate community resources, referrals, and supports, helping them navigate early intervention and healthcare systems.
• Delivered services with a trauma-informed, strengths-based, and culturally competent approach, tailoring interventions to meet the unique needs of diverse families.

Master of Social Work - Concentration in Clinical Social Work - Rutgers University (2014 - 2016)

Bachelor of Arts - Sociology, Concentration in Social Services - William Paterson University (2010 - 2014)