Therapist in Chicago, Illinois,
Ellen Sawyer, LPC

Ellen is a Licensed Professional Counselor with 15 years of experience working with adolescents, adults, and families in various clinical and community settings. In addition to individual therapy, she is a former group therapist, school counselor, group trainer, and international teacher and tutor. Ellen is a trained trauma therapist and works with EMDR to help address issues surrounding anxiety, depression, trauma, and grief. Ellen brings warmth and non-judgement to sessions to help clients recognize and experience their emotions and natural capacities for change. She also feels an important part of therapy is addressing the social, economic, and cultural influences on a person and that the process of therapy should be collaborative. She will bring her curiosity to your symptoms, finding what feels better together. Ellen believes in the irreplaceable value of a web of healthy, supportive relationships for individual and family functioning, and revels in being part of that community. She emphasizes the importance of self and emotional awareness for regaining power and recognizing patterns that keep individuals feeling stuck and powerless amidst life’s ups and downs. Ellen has a Master’s Degree in Counseling with additional qualifications in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing), Somatic Experiencing, Psychological First Aid, and Treating Traumatic Stress. She specializes in anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, chronic stress, and life transitions. Ellen treats patients between the ages of 15 to 65 utilizing a person-centered approach, combing elements of EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and other trauma-informed modalities. Ellen loves spending time with her family and friends and traveling abroad; she has lived and worked in 4 countries as an adult. She loves reading, listening to podcasts, and building community, serving on boards with a handful of area non-profits.