- Experienced LICSW
- Family and parenting
- Trauma and grief
About Ellen
Ellen Walker is a licensed clinical social worker with deep experience helping people through big life stresses. She offers steady, practical support for parents and adults coping with relationship strain, grief, anxiety, mood concerns, addiction issues, and major life changes. Ellen aims to make therapy feel like a partnership where people can talk plainly about what’s going on and find realistic next steps.
She brings about three decades of clinical experience in mental health and child welfare settings. That background means she has worked with many different situations, including trauma, family conflict, adoption and foster care issues, hospice and end-of-life concerns, and the emotional fallout of disasters. Ellen combines that experience with several evidence-informed approaches to match each person’s needs.
In sessions she usually meets once weekly for 45 minutes. Early meetings focus on getting to know one another and clarifying the problems to address. Ellen emphasizes clear communication, mutual respect, and practical goals so progress feels measurable and relevant to daily life.
Her approach is adaptable rather than one-size-fits-all. She commonly draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing, and integrates trauma-focused work when it’s needed. Clients can expect straightforward conversation, tools to manage symptoms, and support planning realistic changes.
Ellen sees clients in the District of Columbia and accepts international clients. Sessions are conducted in English. She encourages people to consider how therapy could fit into their routines and to reach out when they are ready to start.
Approaches used online and how they help
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on understanding each person's perspective and building a trusting partnership. It helps when someone needs a steady, accepting space to talk through feelings and decisions.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at practical links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It offers concrete tools to reduce anxiety, manage depression, and change patterns that get in the way of daily functioning.
Motivational Interviewing is a conversational method that helps people resolve mixed feelings about change. It can be useful when someone wants to move toward goals like reducing substance use or improving relationships.
Finding the right approach is often a team effort. The therapist will work with each person to pick or combine approaches based on their goals, comfort level, and life situation. That collaborative process includes checking in and adjusting methods as progress unfolds.
Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and keep momentum between appointments. The biography did not list specific session formats here, so confirm which formats are currently offered before booking. Once you know the available options, you can choose what fits your routine and needs and then plan sessions around work, caregiving, or other daily responsibilities.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Credentials
District of Columbia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Ellen commonly address?
She helps people with family and parenting issues, relationship problems, grief, trauma and abuse, anxiety, depression, addictions, and coping with life changes including disaster-related stress.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is conversational and collaborative. She focuses on clear goals, practical strategies, and adapting methods to what works for each person.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She brings about 30 years of experience working in mental health and child welfare settings, with a long history of supporting people through complex family and trauma-related issues.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds an LICSW and practices in the District of Columbia.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are accepted.
What session formats are used?
The original biography indicates flexibility in communication methods; please confirm current session options before booking to make sure they match your needs.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.