Karen Ellis, LCSW

Karen Ellis is an LCSW with 14 years of experience who focuses on practical, person-centered care. She emphasizes an open, nonjudgmental space where people can talk about stress, anxiety, grief, relationship concerns, and aging-related questions. She encourages clients to take the first step and recognizes that reaching out takes courage.

She uses straightforward talk and active listening to help people sort through difficult feelings. Sessions look at what matters most to each person and set small steps to reduce distress and improve daily life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy are among the tools she draws on to shift unhelpful thoughts and build values-based action.

Motivational Interviewing techniques support people who feel stuck or ambivalent about change. Solution-Focused work helps identify practical strategies and quick wins to manage immediate problems. The approach is collaborative - the person’s goals guide the work.

Her practice includes support for aging and geriatric issues alongside concerns like trauma, parenting challenges, coping with life changes, and mood disorders. She aims to help people develop clearer routines, rebuild connections, and manage transitions with more confidence.

Karen practices in Oregon and conducts sessions in English. She welcomes questions about how her style might fit particular needs and suggests confirming current session options before booking.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing unhelpful thoughts and choosing actions that align with personal values. It can help with anxiety, grief, and navigating life changes by clarifying what matters and taking small steps toward it. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers practical exercises to change patterns that cause distress. That approach often helps with depression, anxiety, and managing mood swings.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. She collaborates with each person to pick methods that fit their goals and preferences. That means trying techniques, checking how they feel, and adjusting the plan together rather than sticking to one rigid method.

The original biography does not specify which online session formats are offered, so confirm the available options before booking. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove the need to be on camera if a phone call is preferable. Licensed professionals can still use ACT and CBT techniques effectively in remote sessions, helping clients practice skills and set achievable steps between meetings.