- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
About Ellen
Ellen Thrasher is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Hawaii with 30 years of professional experience. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, anger, and depression. Ellen frames the work as a collaboration and respects each person as the expert of their own story.
In sessions she focuses on concrete skills and clearer thinking. She uses approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy to help people manage intense feelings and reduce unhelpful reactions. Conversations often include identifying patterns, practicing new ways to respond, and trying small behavior changes between meetings.
Her background includes long experience across clinical settings in Hawaii. That experience informs a practical, no-frills style that centers problem solving. Ellen pays attention to common stressors like workplace strain, relationship conflict, money worries, and health challenges when they come up.
People often bring concerns about attachment, abandonment, social anxiety, panic, and post-traumatic stress. Ellen also supports those coping with chronic pain, illness, or loss and works with issues such as forgiveness and self-worth. Sessions look at what currently gets in the way and what can be done differently.
Her work is straightforward and goal oriented. She helps clients set manageable objectives and reviews progress as therapy continues. To begin she asks about current struggles, what has helped before, and practical steps a person can try right away.
How her approaches translate to online work
CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with real-life experiments. It helps with anxiety, anger spikes, and depression by breaking problems into small, actionable steps. DBT emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and improved interpersonal skills. It is useful when strong feelings lead to impulsive reactions or repeated conflict. Trauma-Focused Therapy helps safely process traumatic memories and reduce the ways trauma continues to affect everyday life.Finding the right mix of methods is part of the early work. Ellen will collaborate with each person to decide which approaches to emphasize based on their goals, current problems, and what feels doable. That discussion typically leads to a plan that mixes skill practice, behavior changes, and processing when needed.
The practical benefits of online work include easier scheduling and fitting sessions around work or caregiving, and reduced travel time so check-ins are simpler to keep. Confirm the current session options before booking to learn which formats are offered. The therapist will help adapt exercises and between-session tasks so they fit into a client's daily routine.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
Hawaii
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, anger, and depression, plus related issues like panic, attachment concerns, and workplace problems.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is practical and collaborative. She focuses on skills, behavior changes, and clearer thinking drawn from CBT and DBT principles.
How much experience does she bring?
Ellen has 30 years of professional experience working in clinical settings in Hawaii.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, HI LCSW, and practices in Hawaii.
Which languages can sessions be held in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the country work with her?
She does not accept international clients.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I do to get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.