Licensed Clinical Psychologist in San Diego | virtual therapy in California + Florida

Michelle Lyons, PhD – OCD & Anxiety Therapist in San Diego

Dr. Michelle Lyons is a licensed clinical psychologist in California and Florida specializing in OCD, PTSD, anxiety, and insomnia. She works with adults who feel exhausted by intrusive thoughts, anxiety loops, and the lingering weight of past experiences, offering personalized, evidence-based therapy both in San Diego and via telehealth.

Evidence-based, in-person therapy in San Diego (Mission Valley)

Hi, I’m Michelle Lyons, Ph.D.

I hold a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and am a licensed psychologist in California and Florida. I specialize in effective therapies for OCD, PTSD, anxiety, insomnia, and the complex interplay of these challenges.

I help adults build inner resilience when they are deeply exhausted by a mind that never rests under the weight of intrusive thought loops or echoes of the past. I meet your lived experience with sincere care and curiosity. The evidence-based interventions I use are never just a checklist, but a personalized map to help you reclaim your authentic self.

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My Approach

I bring a calm, curious, and deeply collaborative presence into therapy.

While my work is grounded in evidence-based treatments like CBT, ERP, EMDR, and CPT, therapy with me is never rigid or one-size-fits-all.

I am a calm, curious, and reflective person, and I use evidence-based techniques with flexibility. I have in-depth training in the most effective treatments we currently have for OCD, PTSD, anxiety, and insomnia. My deep understanding of these treatments enables me to flexibly tailor interventions to your unique experiences and goals. The evidence-based treatments I utilize all have a foundation in CBT but are designed with the nuances of particular challenges, making the therapeutic framework specialized and more effective.

Therapy with me always prioritizes your goals and there is never a pre-set idea of what you should do. To put it simply — we find out together what is working for you and what is not, and get laser focused on changing what is not. I am a calm, curious, and reflective person, and I use evidence-based techniques with flexibility. I have in-depth training in the most effective treatments we currently have for OCD, PTSD, anxiety, and insomnia. My deep understanding of these treatments enables me to flexibility tailor interventions to your unique experiences and goals. The evidence-based treatments I utilize all have a foundation in CBT but are designed with the nuances of particular challenges, making the therapeutic framework specialized and more effective.

Therapy with me always prioritizes your goals and there is never a pre-set idea of what you should do. To put it simply — we find out together what is working for you and what is not, and get laser focused on changing what is not.

Therapy With Me Is…

Warm, curious, and deeply attuned to your lived experience

✓

Grounded in evidence-based care (ERP, CBT, EMDR, CPT) that is tailored to you

A balance of calm presence and meaningful, forward-moving change

✓

Collaborative—we decide together what is working and what needs to shift

✓

Focused on helping you reconnect with your values, self-trust, and sense of self

✓

Therapy With Me Is Not…

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A one-size-fits-all or checklist-driven approach to treatment

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Focused on diagnoses without understanding your full experience

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Passive or purely talk-based without tools for real-life change

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The right fit for non-OCD-related eating disorders, unmanaged bipolar disorder, psychosis, or borderline personality disorder

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Designed for those seeking therapy primarily for neurodivergence or severe depression

An honest look at how I work…

Is This the Right Fit?

Therapy with me is grounded in connection. I approach our work with genuine curiosity and care, taking the time to deeply understand your lived experience rather than reducing it to symptoms or a diagnosis. You don’t have to filter or perform here. Together, we will build a space where you can show up fully and be met with respect and compassion.
I don’t come into therapy with a fixed agenda for who you “should” be or what your life should look like. Instead, we explore together: what’s working, what’s not, and what actually matters to you. Your insight and feedback shape our work, and we move at a pace that feels both supportive and effective.
I use evidence-based approaches like CBT, ERP, EMDR, and CPT, but therapy with me is never rigid. These tools are adapted to your unique experiences, your goals, and the specific ways your symptoms show up. You’ll always be given room to understand the why behind what we’re doing.
Sessions with me are a balance of calm presence and momentum. You’ll have space to slow down and process. But we’re also actively working toward change. Together, we identify patterns, practice new skills, and build a path forward that feels realistic and sustainable.
Even if you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected from yourself, I hold a steady belief in your capacity for change. Part of my role is helping you see the strength that’s already there, and supporting you in building a life that feels more aligned, intentional, and fulfilling.

Why I Became a Clinical Psychologist

I’m here to help you grow.

I chose this path because witnessing my clients’ journeys continually renews my hope. It is a profound privilege to see the quiet, unrelenting strength you carry—even on days when you feel hopeless or weighed down by shame. Because I can see that strength within you before you might see it in yourself, I am able to offer both specialized expertise and a practical, steady hand to help you build a life that feels truly worthwhile.

The clients that reach out to me have lost their path within the inevitable pain of life. Some can see the path but, frustratingly, can't get back on it. Their battles with distressing thoughts keep them stuck rather than confidently moving forward. Even when the distress is escaped, it just reappears in a never-ending loop with frustration and shame in tow. They desire to be able to slow their mind and focus on what’s most important in their life.

I provide a low-pressure space where clients can feel completely at ease, yet energized enough to lean into the difficult work of change and growth.

Training & Expertise

I previously served as a Staff Psychologist at VA San Diego and as a non-salaried Assistant Clinical Professor in the UC San Diego Department of Psychiatry.
I also served as a faculty supervisor for addiction treatment fellowships at UC San Diego/VA San Diego and led the PTSD seminar for psychology trainees at UC San Diego and VA San Diego.
My professional roles also include consulting on PTSD treatment delivery for clinical trials through the Veterans Medical Research Foundation and serving as a committee member on the San Diego Psychological Association’s Ethics and Standards Committee.
My certifications and specialized training include:
• Certified in Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) via CBI Institute
• EMDR trained, including 50 hours of EMDRIA-approved training
• Certified in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
• Certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
• Certified in Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy (CBCT) for PTSD
• Trained to research-level fidelity in Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy
• Trained by the treatment developers to fidelity in Trauma-Informed Guilt Reduction Therapy (TrIGR)
• Trained to fidelity in Present-Centered Therapy for PTSD (PCT)
My research aims to advance our understanding of PTSD and improve clinical treatments.
Selected peer-reviewed publications:
• Norman, S. B., Luciano, M. T., Panza, K. E., Davis, B. C., Lyons, M., Martis, B., Matthews, S. C., Angkaw, A. C., Haller, M., Lacefield, K., Brody, A. L., Schnurr, P. P., Batki, S. L., Simpson, T. L., & Anthenelli, R. M. (2025). A randomized clinical trial of Prolonged Exposure therapy with and without Topiramate for comorbid PTSD and alcohol use disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 182(5), 452–462.
• Panza, K. E., Kline, A. C., Klein, A. B., Johnson, E., Davis, B. C., Lyons, M. T., Capone, C., & Norman, S. B. (2026). Reduction in reintegration stress among post-9/11 Veterans in a clinical trial for trauma-related guilt. Military Psychology, 38(2), 177–186.
• Kline, A. C., Harlé, K. M., Panza, K. E., Nichter, B., Lyons, R., Pitts, M. (maiden name), Haller, M., Allard, C. B., Capone, C. C., & Norman, S. B. (2024). Changes in guilt cognitions mediate the effect of Trauma-Informed Guilt Reduction Therapy on PTSD and depression outcomes. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 80, 1147–1160.
• Panza, K. E., Kline, A. C., Norman, G. J., Pitts, M. (maiden name), & Norman, S. B. (2021). Subgroups of comorbid PTSD and AUD in U.S. military veterans predict differential responsiveness to two integrated treatments: A latent class analysis. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 137, 342–350.
• Straus, E., Norman, S. B., Tripp, J. C., Pitts, M. (maiden name), & Pietrzak, R. H. (2019). Purpose in life and conscientiousness protect against the development of suicidal ideation in U.S. military veterans with PTSD and MDD: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Chronic Stress, 3, 1–10.

I’m a licensed clinical psychologist in California (PSY30202) and Florida. I received my PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Nevada. I completed my predoctoral internship at VA Boston and my postdoctoral fellowship at UC San Diego/VA San Diego.

My background in research, clinical practice, and professional training allows me to provide highly specialized care for OCD, PTSD, anxiety, and insomnia.

What Brings Me Joy —

Outside the Therapy Room

Connection and curiosity are the heart of my life and my practice. Outside of the therapy room, I enjoy camping. It’s where I slow down to reconnect with loved ones and explore the quiet wonders of nature. It is also very nostalgic for me. Both my parents worked in education and we enjoyed summers off together, often camping throughout the Western U.S. As a child I had wanted to be a park ranger when I grew up and I wish therapy sessions could all be outdoors! A San Diego native at heart, I grew up in Fletcher Hills and La Mesa before spending 14 years away for my education. I eventually found my way back home, where I enjoy the beautiful weather and relaxed, open spirits of people here.