Throughout my 40-year career, I have seen people in almost all professional and community arenas (even jails). My work has been a mix of public and private sector involvement, including 11 years of community mental health service and 30 years of individual practice. I have extensive experience in both home- and office-based psychotherapy, program development, clinical supervision, and clinical innovation. Special populations have included people with developmental disabilities, children and adolescents at risk for out-of-home placements, people with substance abuse issues, and geriatric populations; as expected, all have experienced various forms of grief, loss, and trauma while navigating the simple task of living and surviving. If you modify the title of Johnny Cash's song I've Been Everywhere to I've Done Everything (except prison work), that pretty much sums up my years of professional experience.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
Our work together will resemble a running conversation. During the first session, I will ask questions about your presenting problem(s), your reason for choosing Grow Therapy, your psychotherapy expectations and goals, and your understanding of what psychotherapy can and can not provide for you. I will also receive relevant background history that you think is important to share at the outset. If there's time, I will answer questions that you might have about me. By the end of the session, we will decide whether we are a good fit for each other or it will make sense for you to seek a different provider.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I have often heard that I am open, responsive, and respectful. I believe that your life is yours to live, and I am a relatively short-term support with some extra knowledge and experience who might be able to help you find your way in the future. From experience, I've learned that you are the true expert in your own life, and I am a supportive helper who is only as good as the questions I ask and the listening and observing I do. If I perceive something you're concerned about "ain't broke," I will likely advise you not to try fixing it. Or if I perceive that the break is something different than what you think it is, I might ask if you had considered looking at the issue from a different perspective. If I say or do something offensive to you, I'll trust you to tell me so we can work it out together.
About Dr. Carol Ellstein
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Narrative
We all carry stories of our lives that we believe to be true, even when they may have been bestowed on us by others. My goal is to help you reframe your stories into characterizations that are more fitting for your health, welfare, and goals. For instance, if you tell me that you “always” do something in a certain way, I may ask you how you learned to do it that way, how it helps you, and whether you want to keep doing it that way. Those questions will help you determine what practices and behaviors you want to keep and what you want to change. I use a combination of behavioral, cognitive-behavioral, dialectic, existential, and reality-oriented approaches to help you reach your goals.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
The crux of our work always comes down to a simple question: "This is Your Life (with your presenting problem). How do you want to live it?" The work we do together incorporates cognitive-behavior and supportive techniques to help you determine the direction of your life. We will focus on choice, responsibility, pragmatic solutions, change, and growth.