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Alan Ellias, LMSW
About me
Hello and thanks for taking the time to learn a little bit about me,
I am a LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) in Michigan, in both clinical and macro areas with over 20 years of experience working part time as a psychotherapist. I received my Masters in Social Work from Wayne State University in 1995. While I work in the school system full time, in the past I worked at Commonground, first as a volunteer on the crisis line and later as a part time employee on emergency services. I also was employed at Counseling Alternatives as a part time therapist and had a small part time private practice after that. I have worked with clients with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, LGBTQ+, relationship issues, parenting problems, career challenges, OCD, and ADHD. I also have some limited experience supporting people who have had physical trauma or emotional abuse.
My counseling style is nonjudgmental, adaptable, warm and interactive. I believe in treating everyone with respect, sensitivity and compassion, and I don't believe in stigmatizing labels. I always remind clients that I am here to support you, help guide you when necessary, suggest possible options and open up your thinking on appropriate situations. Ultimately it is your life and you have to make the choices that make the most sense for you. My approach combines cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and rational-emotive counseling. I think your thoughts affect your feelings, which then affect your behaviors. Therefore, if you can change your thoughts, you can change how you feel and then how you act, which can have a profound impact on your life.
It takes great courage to seek out help. Many people think it is a sign of weakness in themselves; I see it as a tremendous strength. We were not put on this earth to walk it alone. We all need support in our lives at different times...sometimes less, sometimes more. Wanting a more fulfilling and happier life is a great goal and finding the right therapist to take the journey with you can be the first step towards a change. If you are ready to take that step I am here to support and empower you. I will tailor our sessions and treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs.
I look forward to working with you!
Professional experience
Additional areas of focus: Family conflicts, Trauma and abuse, Intimacy-related issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Phobias
Clinical approaches: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy
License information
MI LMSW 6801069651
Reviews
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Alan Ellias. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
As a fellow mental health professional it is of the utmost importance to be able to find a professional who is not only supportive but also in tune with that. Alan is genuinely kind and caring while pointing out things that need to be pointed out. He is truly one of those special professionals that one comes across not very often. If you get a chance to work with him, you are truly fortunate
Written on Mar 31, 2023 after therapy with Alan for 4 months on issues concerning lgbt
Alan is a wonderful therapist that has worked with me in my short time that I could afford BetterHelp- he really helped me organize my thoughts and shift my perspective greatly which is exactly what I needed. I achieved more with Alan in 4 weeks than I have in months of in person therapy in the past. If I get a therapist again in the future he will be the first person I try to see.
Written on Sep 04, 2021 after therapy with Alan for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, lgbt, relationship issues, family conflicts, self esteem, career difficulties, and compassion fatigue