I’m Michele Montenegro, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the founder of arKardia Counseling & Consulting. My work is grounded in the belief that meaningful change happens when the mind, body, and spirit are addressed together with care and discernment.

For more than twenty-five years, I’ve worked with individuals, couples, and professionals seeking depth, clarity, and lasting change. arKardia was created as a space where faith and clinical excellence meet, offering care that is both attuned and thoughtfully grounded.

My professional experience includes hospital, university, nonprofit, and private practice settings, including Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins University, Catholic Charities, and Gettysburg College. These environments shaped my understanding of trauma, resilience, and human complexity, and reinforced my conviction that healing cannot be rushed or reduced to a single approach.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Towson University and a Master of Social Work with a clinical focus from Barry University. I am independently licensed in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey. I am an EMDR International Association Certified Therapist and a trained Brainspotting Practitioner, with advanced training in attachment, anxiety, trauma, mediation, and clinical supervision.

I integrate evidence-based and trauma-informed approaches such as EMDR Therapy, Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems, and parts-based work. Care is shaped by each person or couple’s goals and faith preferences, supporting change at the root level while promoting balance across mind, body, and spirit.

In the therapy room, I bring a calm, grounded presence marked by curiosity, compassion, and respect for each person’s process. I work collaboratively, honoring both pain and hope while approaching each story with care and responsibility.