Alan Ellias
Experienced LMSW blending cognitive and relational approaches
LMSW Michigan
- Experience
- 20 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, LGBT, Relationship
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Languages
- English
About Alan
Alan Ellias is a Michigan-licensed LMSW with two decades of part-time practice in psychotherapy and a Master of Social Work from Wayne State University completed in 1995.
Background and approach
He spent years supporting crisis and emergency services, worked in school settings until his 2022 retirement from full-time work, and maintained part-time independent practice roles that broadened his clinical exposure.
Over time he has worked with a wide array of concerns including depression, anxiety, LGBTQ+ issues, relationship challenges, parenting difficulties, career questions, OCD, ADHD, trauma, and emotional or physical abuse. His style is warm, nonjudgmental, and adaptable, combining cognitive-behavioral ideas with psychodynamic perspectives and client-centered support.
He emphasizes respect, compassion, and collaborative decision making, helping clients explore options and shift unhelpful thinking patterns so feelings and behaviors can change. Alan frames therapy as a partnership that honors clients' autonomy while offering guidance when helpful.
Clients who seek a measured, thoughtful clinician will find someone who tailors sessions and treatment plans to individual needs and goals. He also brings experience in hospice and end-of-life counseling, infidelity, phobias, and compassion fatigue, and offers coaching-oriented support for life transitions and career concerns.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online care
Alan integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy into online work. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce symptoms like anxiety or depression and to improve daily functioning. ACT emphasizes accepting difficult internal experiences while clarifying personal values and taking committed action, which can help with stress, grief, and life transitions.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process; the therapist will work with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences and may combine elements from different approaches as appropriate. Clients and the therapist decide together on priorities and adapt strategies over time to find the best fit.
Online therapy with Alan is available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for varied schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to keep consistent appointments, address issues from home or work, and maintain momentum between meetings, while allowing licensed professionals to guide treatment and provide tailored support.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Licensed
Michigan
Languages
English