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Hi, I'm Ellen, a psychotherapist who treats adults and adolescents 19 and up. I combine psychodynamic techniques with spirituality to create a session that offers both common sense and compassion, and also some creative and fun interventions! I work with anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, relationships, and more. My approach is individualized to respect you and what you need or hope for in therapy. I am a marriage and family therapist with experience in school, clinic, and private practice.

Many of the women I work with grew up with high expectations & low emotional support. They learned to prioritize loyalty, achievement, or caregiving over their own needs. Over time, this can create anxiety, burnout, relationship struggles, and a deep sense of disconnection from the self. I specialize in working with women healing from abuse, emotionally unavailable parents & religious & intergenerational trauma. Many of my clients struggle with people-pleasing, guilt, perfectionism, hyper-independence, difficulty setting boundaries, or feelings of responsibility. They often know "why they are the way they are" but still feel stuck.

What we see as flaws often echo patterns rooted in early experiences that shaped our connections with ourselves and others. Trauma, unknowingly, informs these unconscious ways of being that once helped us navigate emotional, physical, and spiritual needs.

With 4+ years of experience treating eating disorders, trauma, and navigating life transitions across outpatient, intensive day programs (IOP/PHP), and residential settings, I bring a trauma-informed approach to help unravel these patterns.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and received my masters from CSU Northridge. I have worked with kids, teens, and adults, and have been trained in Somatic Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other modalities. I have a bachelor's in nutrition and see health and wellbeing through a holistic lens.

Life can be especially difficult for people today. It is my goal to assist all my clients starting at age 3 years, through adults to learn how to make healthy and positive decisions in their lives and to empower them to have a good, healthy self image and to successfully move into their future.

As a Marriage and Family therapist, I take pleasure in helping clients acquire skills to build healthier relationships.

If you are looking to become a better, happier, and healthier person and would like to gain a deeper understanding and love for yourself and others, I can help you. Psychotherapy can improve the quality of your life and/or manage more serious issues such as depression, anxiety, and grief. The process focuses on comfortably connecting with you in a confidential and empathetic, therapeutic setting.

My expertise is in child and adolescent anxiety reduction, OCD, autism and ADHD. My goal is to provide education to kids and their parents about anxiety and related and co-occurring conditions. I also frequently treat phobias, separation anxiety, emotion regulation issues, school refusal, learning disabilities, trauma, giftedness and 2e.

I am also experienced in helping adults and children navigate issues related to divorce including coparenting, custody planning, divorce navigation from considering separation (discernment) through divorce mediation/proceedings to post judgment. I also have expertise in helping adults navigate post separation abuse, domestic violence and coercive control.

As a therapist my goal is to break the stigma that comes with therapy. I strive to create a collaborative, nurturing therapeutic relationship that can help transform one's pain or uncertainties into one of healing. Life can be difficult and sometimes confusing therefore I want to create a corner where one can feel safe, understood, and free of judgement.