Elaine Hughes, LICSW, LCSW

Elaine Hughes, LICSW, LCSW, is a licensed social worker practicing in New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Vermont with 19 years of clinical experience. She focuses on helping people manage stress and anxiety, process trauma and abuse, cope with grief and loss, and address depression. Elaine approaches work from a strengths-based perspective, believing that each person is the expert on their own story and that existing strengths can be mobilized to face life’s challenges. She combines practical skills with empathetic listening to support clients as they identify goals, try new coping strategies, and build resilience. Many clients find the first step of reaching out to be difficult; Elaine honors that courage and aims to make the beginning of therapy feel manageable and respectful of each person’s pace and preferences. Her credentials - LICSW and LCSW - reflect advanced training and licensure in clinical social work. Whether a person is navigating a major life transition, dealing with ongoing stress, or seeking relief from painful memories and emotions, Elaine offers a collaborative, compassionate approach that centers the client’s knowledge and goals.

Approaches That Translate Well to Online Care

Elaine draws from Attachment-Based Therapy to explore how early relationships shape current patterns of connection and emotional regulation. This approach helps people understand attachment needs, improve communication, and build more secure relationships with others.

She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, a practical method that identifies unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and teaches concrete skills to reduce anxiety, lift mood, and manage stress. CBT is useful for addressing depression, worry, and many day-to-day challenges.

Elaine also integrates Dialectical Behavior Therapy tools to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. These skills can be especially helpful for people experiencing intense emotions or difficulty managing conflict.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Elaine works collaboratively with each client to determine which methods fit best with their needs, goals, and personal style, and adjusts the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions by video call or phone, as well as live chat and text-based messaging - so clients can access care from home, work, or while balancing caregiving and other responsibilities. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care and to use therapy in ways that fit real life.