Michele Soleimani, LCSW

Michele earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Colorado in 1992 and her Master’s in Social Work from Fordham University in 2003. She brings decades of experience working with individuals navigating mental health challenges, trauma, and complex life circumstances.

During graduate school, Michele interned at Identity House, a counseling center serving the LGBTQIA community, and later worked extensively within the New York City homeless shelter system. There, she supported physically disabled adults and individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use concerns. These experiences shaped her belief that meaningful change is possible when care is compassionate, respectful, and responsive to the full context of a person’s life.

Michele’s path into social work began in 1997 on a mobile outreach unit supporting street-based sex workers in New York City—an experience that profoundly influenced her clinical perspective and commitment to serving marginalized populations. She relocated to Portland, Oregon in 2006, where she has continued to expand her clinical work, focusing on helping individuals develop emotional regulation, self-understanding, and sustainable paths toward healing.

At Trubriety, Michele brings a grounded, relational approach to care, supporting clients in navigating mental health and substance use challenges with dignity, curiosity, and respect. Her work emphasizes meeting people where they are and helping them reconnect with their own capacity for clarity, resilience, and change.

Outside of her clinical work, Michele enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and skiing, practices kendo, keeps backyard chickens, and enjoys international travel. She identifies as queer and lives in Portland with her husband, their cat, and their two school-aged children.