(she/her)
New to Grow
I’m Chenelle Ellie, a licensed clinical social worker and therapist based in Bel Air, MD. I specialize in helping highly thoughtful and sensitive individuals navigate relationship anxiety and heal from unmet emotional needs, including mother hunger. My work focuses on helping clients move out of their heads, connect with their bodies, and cultivate self-trust, confidence, and deeper, more fulfilling relationships. I offer virtual sessions across MD, VA, and D.C.
Your first session focuses on building comfort and connection. I’ll listen closely to the language you use so we can uncover the deeper fears or patterns driving your anxiety. You’ll share what brought you here—whether it’s relationship anxiety, loneliness, or mother hunger—and we’ll begin clarifying what you want to feel instead. Together, we’ll set goals based on your desires, not others’ expectations. Even though therapy can be deep, there’s room for honesty, warmth, and laughter to help you show up authentically. Most clients meet weekly to build trust and move into deeper healing.
My greatest strengths include helping clients uncover the deeper fears behind their anxiety by closely listening to the language they use. I specialize in relationship anxiety and mother hunger, guiding clients out of their heads and into their bodies so they can build trust, emotional safety, and connection. I also support clients in releasing family and societal expectations so they can reconnect with what they truly want. Even though our work is deep, I create a space where honesty, warmth, and even humor help clients feel safe enough to show up authentically and grow with confidence.
am best positioned to serve insightful, high-achieving individuals who struggle with anxiety, overthinking, and relationship challenges that often stem from attachment wounds or unmet emotional needs in childhood. Some clients resonate with the concept of “mother hunger,” which reflects a deep longing for consistent nurturing, validation, emotional attunement, and support. I help clients strengthen self-trust, better understand their emotional patterns, improve relationship dynamics, and develop a greater sense of confidence, security, and inner stability so they can feel more grounded and fulfilled in their lives and connections.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I have experience using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to support clients in developing greater psychological flexibility, particularly when navigating relationship challenges and difficult emotions related to past decisions. In my practice, I help clients learn to accept aspects of their relationships that may be outside of their control, while also identifying values that guide how they want to show up moving forward. I often support clients in practicing self-compassion and forgiveness for past mistakes by helping them recognize that decisions were made based on the information and resources available at the time. Through ACT interventions such as values clarification, cognitive defusion, and acceptance strategies, clients are empowered to make more intentional choices aligned with who they want to be now, rather than remaining stuck in self-criticism or regret.
Motivational Interviewing
I have experience using Motivational Interviewing (MI) to collaboratively explore each client’s unique experiences, perspectives, and readiness for change. In my practice, I ask thoughtful, open-ended questions based on the information clients share in order to better understand their specific circumstances, values, and goals. This approach helps me conduct a thorough assessment and develop a course of action that is individualized and aligned with each client’s needs. Through reflective listening, affirmations, and gentle exploration of ambivalence, I support clients in identifying their own motivations for change and empower them to move forward at a pace that feels comfortable and sustainable.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
I draw from concepts in Internal Family Systems (IFS) to help clients better understand the different parts of themselves that may emerge in various situations. While I am not a certified IFS therapist, I thoughtfully incorporate IFS-informed language to support clients in recognizing that their thoughts, emotions, and reactions can reflect different internal parts with unique roles and intentions. This perspective often helps reduce self-judgment and increase self-compassion, as clients begin to see that each part is attempting to protect or support them in some way. By exploring these parts collaboratively, clients can gain insight into their internal experiences and develop more balanced, intentional responses that align with their overall goals and values.
Attachment-based
I utilize an attachment-based approach to help clients understand how early relational experiences, including childhood trauma or difficulties with caregivers, may influence their current relationship patterns. In my practice, I support clients in identifying attachment wounds and recognizing how these experiences can shape their expectations, emotional responses, and sense of safety in relationships. Through this process, clients often gain greater insight into their needs for connection, boundaries, and reassurance. By increasing awareness and fostering self-compassion, I help clients develop healthier ways of relating to others so they can engage in relationships with greater comfort, confidence, and emotional security.
Psychoeducation
I incorporate psychoeducation into my practice to help clients better understand how anxiety, trauma, and attachment wounds impact both the brain and body. I provide developmentally appropriate and relevant information about the nervous system, stress responses, and the ways past experiences can shape current emotional and behavioral patterns. This knowledge often helps normalize clients’ experiences and reduces self-blame by highlighting how many of their reactions are rooted in adaptive survival responses. By increasing insight into the connection between thoughts, emotions, and physiological responses, clients are better able to apply coping strategies with greater confidence and intention, supporting meaningful and sustainable change.