Meet Elena

Elena is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who is intentional about creating a safe space for her clients to processing their thoughts, feelings and stress in life. We all need space in our lives to become whole and continue our healing process. This space is where Elena excels!

Elena earned her Bachelor's of Science (BS) in Biochemistry and also earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Gonzaga University, and got her MSW from the University of Southern California. Go Zags and Trojans! In Elena’s therapeutic approach, she incorporates expressive arts, ACT, CBT, and DBT skills while working with children, adolescents, and adults. She has several years of experience working with individuals who experience depression, anxiety, grief, and adjustment issues related to work/school, life, family, and other areas of stress. ​

Additionally, she brings an abundance of knowledge gained from having worked in schools, an inpatient psychiatric hospital, cancer center, and an emergency receiving center for foster children! Elena is a proud "born & raised New Mexican who has been living in North Carolina since January 2018. When it comes to her life philosophy, she believes that we all have a space that makes us feel whole. For some this space will be a physical location and for others this space is inside, captured by the wonderful abilities of our mind through images. For others it is an activity that brings us joy.

She believes that we are navigating how to find, create or even honor and protect that space in our every day lives. This navigation process is part of the breadth of knowledge that Elena bring to the "sacred healing space" known as therapy. Elena's diverse professional background, experience and therapeutic modalities make her a fantastic resource for navigating life difficulties.

She meets all of her clients where they’re at and explores their "navigational system" at their personal level of comfort. She has an empathetic and honest approach that will challenge you with compassion when needed and spunk as well, all of this while also supporting you during difficult times. For both adults and kiddos, she wants to promote healthy routines and healthy ways of expressing and talking about emotions.

In her own words:

along with my love for being a therapist, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my dog (Molly), practicing new recipes in the kitchen, trying to find the most hidden and local gems of the Triangle, and learning something new. ​-Elena ​