HELLO,
My name is Ellina Creary
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Virginia, with over 12 years of experience in the mental health field. I’ve been passionate about mental health since I took my first psychology class in high school. Since that time I’ve never stopped being fascinated by the human psyche. I geek out on neuroscience and the workings of the brain, but more so I marvel at my clients’ resilience and ability to persevere through the toughest of life's circumstances. I am truly honored and blessed to be doing this work as I find it most meaningful and rewarding.
Outside of work I am passionate about the environment, social justice issues, love to travel the world and to meet new interesting people, learn and make art. Well, in theory, at least. In reality, I am a mom of two and I consider myself lucky if I get 30 minutes to myself to scroll through Instagram!
What therapy with me is like
I practice a holistic approach to therapy, looking at how all aspects of your life affect each other. My clinical influence is attachment-based and a little psycho-dynamic, which means that I love to work with people who are not afraid to dig deep and do the hard work. In therapy, I employ a mixture of modalities and techniques varying from practical tools and skill-building to deep emotional processing. Together we can examine your life, determine what is no longer working and find ways to make a shift into a better alignment. Above all, I believe, that the power of great therapeutic transformation lies not in philosophical orientation, technique, or skill, it’s within the therapeutic relationship, through true connection.
My clients appreciate my down-to-earth approach. I'm not someone who is easily shocked or offended. I tend to be direct, while also being kind and gentle. I love to laugh with my clients, but you won't find toxic positivity here. I am not afraid of tears, either. It is important to me that my clients feel free to be themselves, because if you can't be yourself in therapy where can you be free? I do my best to show up authentically, and I hope that you do the same.
I know that it takes a lot of courage to reach out for help. I commend you for that! If you are ready to take the next step, I'd be happy to talk to you!
If you wish to study my whole resume please visit my LinkedIn profile.