Ellen is native to the Victoria area. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor who holds a Master of Education in School Counseling with a Certificate in Counseling and Development from Lamar University. She also holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Houston-Victoria. Prior to her work in the counseling field, Ellen worked as an elementary school teacher in Victoria. Ellen’s clinical work is dedicated to helping survivors of trauma heal from their past and provide them with the tools to create a happy and healthy future. She believes that the best way to achieve this is through an integrative and holistic approach that includes movement to create a mind-body connection. This is what led her to exploring yoga. She has experience providing trauma focused treatment to children and adolescents along with their families within the child advocacy center, private practice, and juvenile justice center settings since 2017. Ellen also has experience in creating and developing presentations to help educate others regarding mental health, trauma symptoms, and trauma interventions. She has presented for various organizations and businesses within the community.

Ellen is nationally certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and trained in EMDR. Ellen is also a certified practitioner of the Trauma Conscious Yoga Method and certified YTT-300 yoga instructor. Being an advocate for mental health and wellness in the community, Ellen serves as an officer on the board of directors for Hope of South Texas and the Victoria County Child Welfare Board.

When Ellen is not in session and volunteering, her ideal days are spent at home enjoying movies with her husband and puppies (Pugsley Lu, Pepe, and Puppy). Ellen considers herself to be a lifelong learner and enjoys seeking out new professional development opportunities to increase her base of knowledge to better serve her clients and community. She is also passionate about educating others about mental health and trauma treatment.