Ellen created Downward Dog Wellness to change the way we view yoga in our community and to provide a place where individuals can practice yoga with a trauma conscious practitioner of yoga. One thing that we know for sure about trauma and stress is that we hold it in various parts of our bodies. Utilizing yoga can help us access those emotions and become more aware of how our nervous systems and bodies may react to certain emotions or stress. Ellen utilizes her experience providing psychotherapy to integrate somatic psychotherapy practices with trauma-conscious yoga to help individuals heal in mind, body, and soul.

Ellen also hopes to help the community know that yoga is for EVERYONE and EVERY BODY.

Ellen’s psychotherapy experience includes providing trauma treatment in various settings including the child advocacy center, private practice, and the juvenile justice center for children, teens, adults, and families. Ellen’s treatment approach includes addressing the nervous system and providing psychoeducation to help individuals learn how their own nervous system operates in order to learn how to tend to and work with it for holistic healing. Ellen is an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist.