Ellen Ortiz

Ellen Ortiz is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) who frames the client as the expert in their own story. She honors the courage it takes to ask for help and aims to support people as they move toward a more fulfilling, happier life. Ellen practices with an open, nonjudgmental stance and welcomes people from varied backgrounds and beliefs.

She has seven years of professional experience and holds licensing in Illinois and Nevada as an LMFT. Ellen has worked with people facing relationship struggles, family conflict, trauma and abuse, and parenting challenges. She also supports those navigating major life transitions and stress from caregiving.

In sessions she emphasizes practical, real-world steps and clear communication. Ellen prefers video and phone sessions and uses text only for appointment confirmations or last-minute changes. She asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire to get started and then schedule according to her availability.

Common focus areas include attachment and abandonment concerns, communication problems, divorce and separation, and postpartum and pregnancy-related issues. She also addresses guilt, shame, forgiveness, self-love, and questions about life purpose and midlife changes.

Ellen aims to make therapy approachable and relevant. She listens for strengths in each person’s story and helps turn those strengths into actionable ways to cope and grow.

How evidence-based methods translate to online care

Many therapists trained in evidence-based techniques focus on skills you can practice between sessions. For example, an approach that targets trauma often includes grounding and pacing strategies to reduce overwhelming reactions and rebuild a sense of safety. Techniques that address attachment and relationship concerns work on communication skills and ways to notice patterns that get in the way of closeness.

Choosing which approach to use is a shared decision. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, needs, and preferences and suggest techniques to try. If something isn’t helping, the plan can change so the work fits the person better.

Practical benefits of online therapy often include easier scheduling and less time spent traveling to appointments. Video can make it possible to read facial cues and body language, while phone sessions can be a simpler option when bandwidth or camera use is an issue. This therapist prefers video and phone and uses text only for appointment confirmations or last-minute changes, so confirm the current session options before booking to make sure they fit your routine.