Ellen Goodloe, LCSW, CSW

Ellen Goodloe is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 27 years of experience. She helps people who feel stuck by addressing relationship strain, anger, low self-esteem, career frustration, stress, anxiety, grief, and trauma and abuse. She also supports those facing parenting challenges, intimacy concerns, mood disorders such as depression and bipolar, and compassion fatigue. Ellen has worked with members of the military and veterans and brings that background into her practice in Virginia.

Her approach is straightforward and respectful. She listens first, then works with each person to design practical steps they can use between sessions. Ellen uses a variety of evidence-based therapeutic techniques and tailors conversations and plans to match what a person needs right now. The tone in sessions is calm and direct, with room for honesty and small achievable goals.

She focuses on helping people shift harsh self-talk and regain confidence. For someone coping with life changes or career choices, she breaks problems down into manageable parts. When trauma or abuse is part of the story, she pays attention to safety and pacing and adjusts the work to what the person can handle.

Starting therapy with Ellen means getting a plan that fits daily life. She emphasizes practical tools, steady support, and measurable steps toward clearer thinking and healthier behavior. Ellen aims to help people move from feeling overwhelmed to acting with more control and purpose.

Her practice reflects long experience and a respectful style. People who prefer a direct, collaborative counselor may find her approach a good match.

Evidence-based approaches and online care

Many evidence-based therapeutic techniques focus on changing thoughts and behaviors and on managing the body’s reactions to stress. Cognitive approaches look at unhelpful thinking patterns and teach ways to test and reframe those thoughts to reduce anxiety and improve mood. Skills-based methods focus on practical tools for handling anger, stress, and overwhelming feelings through step-by-step practice.

When trauma and abuse are part of the picture, approach matters. Work is paced to match what a person can tolerate and often combines grounding strategies, emotion regulation skills, and careful processing when the client is ready. For military and veteran-related concerns, the work can include attention to how experiences shape daily routines and relationships.

Finding the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try methods that seem to fit, and adjust over time. That conversation helps decide which techniques to use and how fast to move.

Confirm the session formats before booking so you know how sessions will be scheduled. Many people like online therapy because it can fit into a busy day, avoid travel time, and make it easier to keep regular appointments. Online sessions can also let someone choose shorter check-ins when that works better for their schedule, or use video when a visual connection feels helpful.