About Michelle Button, LCSW-R
Michelle Button is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and the Founder & Director of Passages Wellness & Counseling for Women, a group mental health practice specializing in women’s health and wellness in Setauket, New York. Michelle brings over 20 years of experience working in the mental health field with an expertise in Reproductive Mental Health.
Michelle’s passion in working with women and families comes from her own personal family building experience. After years of trying to get pregnant unsuccessfully, Michelle was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and was referred to a Reproductive Endocrinologist to begin fertility treatment. She was struck by the tremendous emotional and physical demands of the process as well as the heartbreaking loss she experienced. After finally getting pregnant, she felt blindsided by her experience with postpartum depression and anxiety and how isolating she found new motherhood to be. How is it possible our culture spends so much time and energy planning for baby registries and nurseries but neglects the emotional health of women preparing for motherhood?
As a result of her own experience, and lack of information, support and resources, she founded Passages with the intent to provide a safe and nurturing place where women can have access to quality mental health services during their family building journey. Passage’s mission is to help educate, prepare and support women and families through pregnancy, postpartum, infertility and bereavement. Michelle’s hope is to provide education, counseling and support to help families prepare for the major life changes that come with parenthood and to help women feel less isolated and alone.
Honored to be part of the BBR Board, Michelle hopes to raise awareness of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) and to help all women and families have access to quality resources in the birth community. Through community education and support as well as professional development and training, Birth & Beyond is changing lives every day and helping to increase positive birth outcomes for women and families.