Greetings! My name is Carrie McElwee and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, in California. I believe in meeting the client where they are and creating a safe space for each client to feel empowered as positive change occurs, judgement-free and unapologetically. My mission is to promote mental health services through prevention, education, and interventions. I have in my professional career integrated humor, compassion, empathy, and realness. I am trained in using various evidence-based practices.
Clients can expect to spend time building rapport, discussing their needs, and creating obtainable goals. I thrive on allowing the client to get to know the provider, it's key when working through difficult/challenging moments and/or exploring one's traumatic history. Of course after completing any paperwork necessary the focus is on what's important, the client and their therapy journey. I consider where you came from, what you've been through, and help you process how you feel about it all.
I enjoy setting a tone/environment which is relaxed and stress-free. It can be an enjoyable experience working with me because I encourage each client to seek their personal joy and healing, by giving themselves grace. But I'm not afraid to challenge my clients in order to achieve their treatment goals, work through challenges, and achieve healing in a therapeutic setting.
Carrie L. McElwee offers therapy covered by Central California Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal), Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal), L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal), Orange County Mental Health Plan (Medi-Cal), Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal) and San Francisco Health Plan (Medi-Cal) in California.
I use CBT to assist clients in recognizing how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other. We then use this knowledge to change the individual's thinking patterns, which will help the client experience a less anxious and stressed life.
I am a trained Dialectical behavior therapist and I use this evidence-based psychotherapy in treating personality disorders and interpersonal conflicts.
I enjoy bring a refreshing and "let's get down to business" approach to my Couple's Counseling. By assisting individuals we will exploring their relationship from a scientifically and spiritually model where we dive deep into the emotional, mental, and energetic causes underlying the less desired relationship.
As a trained trauma-informed therapist, I specialize in working with adolescents and adults within several demographics, including BIPOC and LGBTQ communities.
Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) is one intervention I've implement in my practice to assist clients with Life Transitions, Grief, and Communication.