Ellina Creary, LPC

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 work with adults who are tired of fighting with food, their bodies, and themselves. You may have noticed patterns — restricting, bingeing, over-exercising, or obsessing over what “should” happen — and no matter how hard you try, it never feels like enough. I get it. You’re not broken, and you’re not alone.

Often, these patterns are connected to past experiences — things that happened in childhood, high-pressure environments, or even religious or spiritual settings that left you feeling unsafe or ashamed. Trauma can show up in ways that feel confusing or frustrating: perfectionism, people-pleasing, anxiety, or self-criticism. And those patterns can quietly fuel disordered eating and body shame long after the experiences are over.

In therapy, we look at those connections together — gently and safely. I help you unpack how the past may still be showing up in your present, and build coping tools that actually work. I use trauma-informed approaches, including EMDR therapy, to help your brain and body process experiences that feel “stuck,” so they no longer control how you feel or respond.

I also support women in reclaiming their relationship with food and their bodies. Together, we work on intuitive eating, body acceptance, and self-trust, all at your pace. Healing doesn’t have to be perfect — it just has to be real.

I see clients in Lansdowne, VA, and throughout Virginia, both in-person and virtually. If you’re ready to stop surviving and start living with more ease, curiosity, and self-compassion, I’m here to help.

​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!