Christy Ellis

        Hi, my name is Christy Ellis. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. I graduated from Walden University and did some of my graduate studies at Xavier University.  I hold an undergraduate BA in Psychology from Argosy University.

           I am new to the mental health world having only 6 years total of clinical experience in mental health.  I come from a background of addictions counseling which I did for 3 years.  I worked with a multitude of co-occurring mental health issues in the world of addictions; I am well versed in how addiction and mental health impact client and family functioning. I am a board approved independently licensed addictions counselor (LICDC). I am both a member and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and have taken many workshops on issues such as coming out, impacts of coming out on the family, and transgender issues.  I continue to build my proficiency in this area of competency.  Surviving trauma and overcoming grief are also areas I have some competency in and enjoy helping people through these difficult times.  I am well versed in trauma informed care and understanding how trauma impacts daily living and exacerbates some mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and post traumatic stress disorder.

          In my practice I am rooted in Rogerian person-centered talk therapy as well as integrative with other therapy modalities like CBT, DBT, and affirming therapy practices.  In my space you will find safety, empathy, genuine positive regard, and a space to explore feelings and emotions without judgement.  Struggling with mental health issues can be an exhausting journey.  You are not alone; together we can help you learn to manage triggers and provide a space to explore the roots/causes and learn tools to help manage and overcome the things that keep you in that space.  I am willing to walk a journey next to you not as the expert but as a guide to enable you to find peace and happiness that exist inside you.  We will do this by having a conversation and utilizing any needing modalities such as cognitive reframing, emotion regulation, and distress tolerance among others. Lasting and impactful healing and change are possible.  The key component of any therapeutic relationship is trust and rapport, with me you get both.

          I am a firm believer that change and healing are possible. I cannot tell the road will be easy, but I can tell you I am there as a guide and you can achieve it. I have lived this in my own experience and struggles. It is why I chose to walk this path in education, to pay it forward and help others as I once was helped in my darkest hours.  This is my passion as a therapist, to help others seek and find that lasting impactful change that promotes healing and growth.          

          In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my wife, my 3 dogs (Gryffin, Hanuman, and Bailey) and my family.  I am an outdoors loving soul, so I enjoy gardening, planting flowers and working outside my house to make it a beautiful space. We frequent many festivals; I will engage in any advocacy project I find interesting and useful to promote change and safety for those marginalized populations. Since the weather is not always warm, the indoor things I enjoy are gaming, reading, music therapy, and watching whatever our favorite series is currently.  I enjoy working puzzles and challenging my brain to expand and learn more.