Catherine Elzie, LCSW

Catherine Elzie is an LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) practicing in Oregon with extensive experience in both mental health and substance abuse treatment. She brings 15 years of professional work in mental health and two decades of experience addressing substance use concerns, combining clinical training and real-world experience to support clients through complex challenges. Catherine takes a collaborative stance in therapy - she views clients as the experts on their own lives and partners with them to set goals and choose strategies that fit.

Clients report finding her warm, non-judgmental, and validating, and she balances compassionate care with a sometimes irreverent use of humor when appropriate. She practices from a body-positive perspective and follows a Healthy at Every Size (HAES) approach to weight and body concerns. Catherine is LGBTQ+ affirming and sex positive, and she works intentionally with gender and sexual identity issues.

Her clinical focus includes PTSD and trauma, including childhood and generational trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, veteran concerns including treatment for combat and non-combat PTSD, and mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder. She has intensive training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD, and Motivational Interviewing, and integrates these methods to meet each person’s needs. Catherine holds a bachelor’s degree in Politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz (2005) and a Master of Social Work from the University of Nevada, Reno (2008).

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Catherine frequently draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them. ACT focuses on clarifying personal values and taking meaningful action, which can be useful for depression, anxiety, and challenges related to identity and life purpose.

She is also intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), a skills-based approach that teaches emotional regulation, distress tolerance, interpersonal effectiveness, and mindfulness. DBT can be especially helpful for managing strong emotions, relationship difficulties, and patterns that contribute to ongoing distress.

Catherine incorporates Motivational Interviewing when supporting change-related goals, using a collaborative, non-confrontational style to strengthen a person’s own motivation and commitment to change. This approach is often useful for substance use concerns and other behavior changes.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Catherine works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques over time in partnership with the client.

Online therapy with Catherine is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexible options to fit different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to access consistent care from home, work, or other locations while maintaining regular contact with a licensed professional who can tailor treatment to each individual’s situation.