Profile / United States
Ellen Walker, LICSW
District of Columbia
LICSW in DC - Trauma and Mood concerns
See online therapy options- CBT and solution-focused
- Motivational interviewing
- Weekly 45 minute sessions
About Ellen
Ellen Walker is a LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker) practicing in the District of Columbia with 30 years of experience. She works with adults on concerns such as depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, relationship problems, parenting stress, and addiction. She also addresses issues like ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, compassion fatigue, and major life changes.
Her approach is practical and flexible. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) alongside client-centered listening, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused techniques. Sessions often begin with clear goals and simple skills to try between meetings.
Ellen typically meets weekly for 45 minutes early on to build understanding of the current problems. She describes the therapeutic relationship as a partnership that depends on honest communication and effort from both people. She uses direct conversation and structured exercises to notice unhelpful thoughts and habits, and then test new responses.
She has an extensive background in mental health and child welfare settings, bringing long experience with trauma, family conflict, and caregiving stress. That history informs how she helps people manage grief, deal with past hurt, and handle ongoing caregiving demands.
Practical matters are discussed up front, including scheduling and how sessions will be run. Ellen prefers video early on to get to know someone, and also offers phone and text contact as needed. She checks messages at least once each weekday to keep communication moving.
How Ellen integrates in-person approaches into online care
CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and patterns and testing different behaviors to see what works better. It is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and many everyday problems where thinking and habits keep difficulty going.Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and reflecting so clients can clarify what matters to them. Motivational Interviewing helps people resolve mixed feelings about change and build their own reasons to try new behaviors. Each approach offers concrete strategies that can be used in remote sessions.
Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work. Ellen will collaborate with a client to pick approaches that match the person's goals, preferences, and practical needs, and she adjusts methods as progress is made.
Her biography indicates she often begins with video to get to know someone and also offers phone and text contact. Confirm the specific session formats before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit regular meetings into busy schedules, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time so therapy can be maintained during hectic periods.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
District of Columbia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with most often?
She works with depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and parenting concerns, addiction, ADHD, bipolar mood concerns, and stress related to caregiving and life changes.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
She uses a practical, eclectic approach that emphasizes clear goals, structured exercises, and collaborative problem solving. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is one of the main methods she draws on alongside client-centered listening and motivational interviewing.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has about 30 years of experience in mental health and child welfare settings, which informs her work with trauma, family issues, and caregiving stress.
What credential and region should I note?
She is a LICSW (Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker) practicing in the District of Columbia.
In what languages can sessions be conducted?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She accepts international clients; confirm any cross-border details before scheduling.
What are the session formats she uses?
Her biography notes she generally begins with video sessions and is also available by phone and text, but confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees and initial steps handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the See online therapy options button, complete the short questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.