What is Narrative Therapy?  

It's about listening-  just sitting back and listening to people's stories.  Stories they share tell so much about their capabilities and possibilities for the future.  Taking cues from the client, Ellen finds that they are truly the experts in their lives....leading her where they want to go in the therapy.

Within all those challenging stories, are actions of strength and direction.  We have the opportunity to harness those glimpses of strength, create more positive narratives, and in so doing diminish the influence of problems.

One of the magical aspects of narrative practice includes what we call "outsider witnessing."  Whenever possible, clients are encouraged, whatever the age, to invite someone into a session.  Each person has the opportunity to be interviewed from a position of safety- no interruptions!  That creates space for each to reflect on what they heard, their own similar feelings perhaps, and how this 'listening' might influence the relationship.  It's all about creating a safe place to share- couples, kids-parents, boss-employee, siblings....Ellen recalls 7 family members coming together to create support for the client!

We might not have control over how our challenges have arrived on our doorstep, yet, we do have choices how we want to live with them.

Food Coaching:Food and You

Ellen brings over 30 years experience helping people redefine their relationship with food.  She devotes much time to those suffering from disordered eating, and helps them to find more positive food stories for themselves.

Food, as we all know, is a central player in our lives. Helping people find more positive food stories for themselves creates a window of opportunity for more "whole"some narratives.                            

Creating the relationship often needs as much effort as we put into the other relationships in our lives.     

For some- coaching about basic nutrition, food preparation, better food choices, and meal ideas help build that relationship. For others- it's not so simple.

How can we help create a more positive relationship with food?  Sharing food stories opens up space for creating options how Food and You can grow into something different.

Eating Disorders

Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness.  They ravage the mind and body of those trapped in it's clutches.  The suffering for those struggling and their families is indescribable.

Very early intervention can give a hopeful outcome.  The road to recovery is very long, often with bumps along the way.

To  this end, Ellen presents lectures and workshops to educate and create awareness about early warning signs, and possibilities for recovery.

Her consultation room is always open to consult with parents, schools, teens, mental health professionals, etc.

EMDR

Traumatic experiences in our lives often continue to disturb us- getting in the way of living more preferred lives. 

EMDR- Eye Movement Desensitation and Reprocessing,helps re-process those experiences not unlike what the brain does naturally in REM sleep.

When client appropriate, Ellen weaves EMDR into her gentle Narrative approaches.

Creative Narrative Play With Children

Ellen's creative environment welcomes children into sharing their narratives through play, art, movement, cooking, curiosity, collaboration, and acceptance in a therapeutic context.

Teens

Expectations, body image, 'not good enough,' loneliness, sexual abuse stories, sexual identity, defining religious preferences, 'not belonging,'- the list goes on and on for today's teen.  Ellen's genuine curiosity, caring, and gentle questioning helps teens move from the 'problem' story to more preferred places.

Ellen has established The Teen Therapy Fund. You call read more about that by clicking here.

Women

Motherhood, marriage, body image, divorce, abuse, sexual abuse-both past and present, loneliness, menopause, children, grandparenting, second marriages, depression, juggling home/career, cultural and religious expectations, and ADD are topics all welcomed into Ellen's consulting room.  Together in our sharing, new ways of looking at ourselves begin to emerge, with new possibilities for the future.

Couples

Ellen puts great effort into creating safety for couples in therapy. Safe places for sharing and being heard are firmly established.  Whether the challenges are AD(H)D, being heard, mental illness, children, or religious differences- creating a lasting and satisfying relationship is very present throughout the work. 

Elderly Couples

As couples age together, challenges-some past stories-some new, accompany them into older age. Sharing stories about love, intimacy, declining health and abilities, criticism and encouragement are moving for a therapist to hear and the clients to share. Ellen has the privilege to include in her practice couples well into their eighties and nineties as they strive for better relationships.

Mental Illness

Ellen collaborates with the client(s), psychiatrist, and the therapy to build a program of support for life.  Through exercise, good eating habits, therapy, medication, and long-term support, the client is an active participant in living a more preferred life.