- Collaborative approach
- Practical coping skills
- Work and wellbeing
About Ellen
Ellen Dinsmore is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and addiction. She also supports people facing career pressures, relationship strain, grief, trauma, and questions about identity, including LGBT and gender dysphoria concerns. Ellen practices with a focus on real-life problems and practical next steps.
With 15 years of experience, Ellen takes a collaborative approach. She works alongside people to set clear goals and build doable plans. Sessions are straightforward and conversational, aimed at making steady progress rather than quick fixes.
Ellen uses a mix of tools drawn from acceptance and commitment strategies, cognitive behavior ideas, and mindfulness. She also relies on client-centered listening and motivational interviewing to help people find motivation and clarity. The goal is to match methods to each person’s needs and values.
Her style is down-to-earth and respectful. She aims to create an open space where people can name difficult feelings and test small changes. Ellen emphasizes authenticity and practical coping skills that fit daily life.
People come to her for help with complex mood issues, ADHD, compassion fatigue, parenting stresses related to adoption or foster care, substance concerns, and the fallout of past trauma. She supports work and wellbeing concerns and helps people explore purpose and next steps when life shifts.
To begin, she asks people to identify a few immediate goals and then builds a paced plan. Sessions are a mix of talk, skill practice, and planning so changes can carry into ordinary days.
How Ellen’s Approaches Fit Online Work and Wellbeing
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice what matters to them and take steps toward those values even when feelings are difficult. It can help with anxiety, depression, and life changes by building steady actions rather than chasing symptoms. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks down how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and teaches practical techniques to shift unhelpful patterns, which is useful for stress, low mood, and compulsive behaviors. Client-Centered Therapy centers on listening without judgment and following the person’s own pace and priorities, which helps people feel heard and understood.Finding the right mix of methods is part of the work. Ellen collaborates with each person to test approaches and adapt them based on goals, preferences, and what actually helps in daily life. That process is shared and flexible rather than fixed from the start.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten travel time, and let people practice skills in their usual routines. Some formats are better for brief check-ins while others suit longer skill-building sessions; Ellen will discuss what works best for scheduling and therapy goals.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
15+ years
Credentials
Minnesota
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does Ellen help with?
She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, trauma, and relationship concerns, along with work and wellbeing issues and questions of identity.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Ellen uses a collaborative, down-to-earth style that focuses on setting goals and taking small, practical steps. Sessions are conversational and aim to build skills people can use day to day.
What is her background and experience?
She has 15 years of professional experience working with a range of mood, behavioral, and life-transition concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She holds a Minnesota Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker credential, listed as MN LICSW, and practices from Minnesota.
Does she work in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions scheduled and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with therapy?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.