Ellen Ortiz, LMFT

Ellen Ortiz is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) who brings seven years of clinical experience to her work with individuals, couples, and families. She views each person as the expert of their own story and seeks to build on existing strengths to help clients move through relationship struggles, family conflict, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, and life stage transitions. Ellen is licensed to practice in Nevada and Illinois and offers an inclusive, nonjudgmental approach that welcomes people of all backgrounds and beliefs.

Ellen emphasizes practical, accessible care and believes that taking the first step toward a more fulfilling life requires courage. She favors video and phone sessions for therapeutic work and uses text messaging only to confirm appointments or communicate last-minute schedule changes. Her practice focuses on helping clients navigate attachment and abandonment concerns, caregiver stress, communication difficulties, divorce and separation, grief and forgiveness, midlife questions, perinatal and postpartum concerns, and the effects of trauma. Ellen works collaboratively with clients to identify goals and supports people as they develop coping strategies, strengthen self-compassion, and rebuild healthier relationships.

Available in English and based in Illinois, Ellen offers a compassionate, strengths-based style geared toward practical progress and meaningful change.

Evidence-Based Approaches for Online Relationship and Trauma Work

Ellen uses evidence-based techniques tailored to relationship and family concerns, such as family-focused interventions that explore patterns of communication and interaction within households and between partners. These approaches aim to improve problem-solving, reduce conflict, and strengthen connection by clarifying roles, boundaries, and expectations.

She also applies trauma-focused strategies to address the effects of past harm and abuse, helping clients process difficult memories, reduce trauma-related symptoms, and rebuild a sense of safety and agency. Additionally, skills-based coping work teaches practical tools for managing stress, caregiver burden, guilt, and shame so clients can navigate life transitions more effectively.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Ellen works with each person to identify goals, preferences, and needs, and together they adjust techniques over time to find the best fit for healing and growth.

Online sessions offer flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to schedule care around work, family, or caregiving responsibilities and allow for consistent progress even when in-person visits are not practical. Licensed professionals, including therapists like Ellen, can deliver meaningful, structured support through these formats.