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Ellen

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Ellen Mail, MSW, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Therapist

As a psychotherapist, I approach my work as an opportunity to accompany each client on their journey to the home within: a place of inner peace and sanctuary, calm and happiness. I enjoy providing therapy to couples and adults in all phases of life who are motivated to experience the effects that personal growth and improved coping can have on their emotional health, relationship satisfaction, and overall wellbeing.​

How Do I Approach Therapy?

 

The power of therapeutic relationship is well-established as the most effective component of therapy, and so I emphasize developing a positive client-therapist relationship rooted in empathy and respect, compassion and collaboration. My role is to create a safe therapeutic environment in which you feel seen and supported as you share your story and explore feelings so that we can work together to identify your unique needs and move towards healing.

​​Who Do I Work With and What Concerns Do I Treat?

 

I enjoy offering therapy to a diverse range of clients, including new parents, young adults, couples, professionals, executives, medical and mental health providers, academic professionals, and caregivers. I support clients facing life transitions - whether it's starting college, becoming a parent, caring for aging parents, or making career changes - as well as those dealing with depression, anxiety, active and anticipatory grief, new diagnoses, and trauma. I have extensive experience working with people living with cancer and other chronic illnesses, parents of children living with life-threatening or terminal illness, and parents who have experienced the loss of a child.

 

Of note, I do not treat personality disorders, substance use disorders, or eating disorders as these are not my areas of expertise.  

My Specialty Areas

Women. I am deeply committed to supporting women through all stages of life, with specialized training in perinatal issues. The journey to parenthood can bring unexpected challenges, including disappointment, pain, and grief. If you’ve faced difficulties with fertility, pregnancy loss, perinatal depression or anxiety, shifts in relationships as roles evolve, or a loss of self during this transition, please know you are not alone, and there is a path forward. With my background in perinatal care, I am here to walk beside you as you navigate the unique, often complex aspects of your situation. Alongside my expertise in perinatal mood disorders, I have extensive experience in grief and loss, offering a compassionate presence and practical tools to help you process your experience and imagine a way forward.

Couples. I enjoy working with couples who are seeking support to strengthen their bond and manage conflict more effectively. Whether you need to learn how to "fight" productively, express needs positively, navigate tricky conflicts, deepen intimacy, or process raw spots in the relationship, I use generous amounts of compassion and curiosity to guide you toward having the connection you both desire. I work well with couples who need a tune up or help interrupting and shifting out of problematic patterns in relating.

Integrating therapy with time in nature and physical movement is a powerful combination for improving wellbeing. Walk & Talk Therapy is very similar to therapy held in the office, with the difference being therapy is held outdoors while taking a walk together.

Some people experience it to be more relaxing and comfortable than therapy in an office setting. Walking supports our physical and mental health. Research suggests exercise positively impacts our emotional wellbeing. Although Walk & Talk therapy is not an exercise session, it may support an active lifestyle.

Please Note: An in-person or virtual intake session is required prior to scheduling a Walk & Talk Therapy session. At the intake session, we will discuss the risks and benefits, privacy concerns, physical considerations, and the desired goals of Walk & Talk Therapy as this type of therapy is not appropriate for everyone. During this initial session, we will also discuss the logistics of Walk and Talk therapy, such as our meeting point (e.g., Holliday Park, Monon Trail). 

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Whether in the office, virtually, or in nature, I look forward to connecting and working together to help you find your home within. 

In addition to working with monogamous couples, I also enjoy working with the LGBTQIA+ community as well as helping those in non-traditional relationships and those who are poly, open, or ethically/consensually non-monogamous.  â€‹

Walk and Talk Therapy. Working with clients who want to add Walk and Talk Therapy to their treatment plan is of great interest to me as I believe the therapeutic potential is enhanced when mental health support is combined with physical activity. 

Work with Ellen

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Summary of Training

I earned a master’s degree in clinical social work from Boston University in 2018. My graduate studies included completion of course work in a variety of therapeutic modalities (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing) and an internship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I practiced medical social work for five years and supported patients and families navigating new diagnosis, chronic illness and end-of-life. I hold a certificate in palliative and end of life social work practice, and have participated in trainings related to grief and bereavement, adjustment to illness, and perinatal mood disorders. I have also completed training in walk and talk therapy, a modality that takes therapy out of the office setting and into nature while incorporating physical movement.

Theoretical Orientation

I practice from a person-centered, integrative therapy orientation to tend to each client’s unique needs and challenges. My therapy sessions incorporate a variety of evidenced-based practices such as cognitive-behavioral techniques, mindfulness, and solution-focused strategies to help clients achieve their goals and improve overall coping and health. I also integrate emotionally focused couples therapy (EFT) and Gottman's method into my work with couples.

Education

- Master of Social Work (MSW) from Boston University School of Social Work (2018) - Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology from DePauw University (2010)

License and Professional Memberships

- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): Indiana License 34009332A - Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW): Massachusetts License 123214 - Palliative and End-of-Life Care Certificate through ​Smith College School for Social Work (Nov. 2021 – May 2022)​

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Additional Training

  • Advanced Perinatal Mental Health Psychotherapy (Postpartum Support International, 2024)

  • Perinatal Mood Disorders: Components of Care (Postpartum Support International, 2024)

  • Intensive Course in Emotionally Focused Therapy: Attachment-based Interventions for Couples in Crisis (11 hours of training through PESI, 2024)

  • Walk and Talk Therapy - Getting Started as a Walking Therapist (PESI, 2023)

  • Somatic Interventions for Grief (2023)

  • An Anti-Oppression Framework for Social Work Practice (SWHPN, 2023)

  • Mental Health in the Childbearing Year (Smith College School for Social Work, 2022)

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