Dr. Ella Ray

Compassionate CBT-informed clinical psychologist

PA Psychologist PS005318L Pennsylvania

Experience: 36 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Ella

Dr. Ella Ray combines a practical, evidence-informed approach with a warm, person-focused stance to help clients tackle stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and related life challenges.

Background and approach

A licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania (PA Psychologist PS005318L) with 36 years of clinical experience, she often blends cognitive behavioral techniques with mindfulness to help people clarify unhelpful thought patterns and reduce the mental noise that gets in the way of everyday functioning and decision making.

She also draws on client-centered and motivational strategies to support each person’s values and goals. Her work has addressed a wide range of concerns including relationship and intimacy issues, grief, parenting and fatherhood matters, career obstacles such as impostor feelings and procrastination, compassion fatigue, chronic pain and illness, multicultural and family-of-origin issues, and phobias.

Dr. Ray emphasizes strengths alongside challenges and encourages clients to understand and question suggested techniques so they fit individual needs.

Practical matters such as completing required identification and intake information are part of her practice, and she currently has openings on Wednesdays and Sundays in Pennsylvania.

Practical approaches for online therapy and skill building

Dr. Ray often uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors; CBT is commonly used for anxiety, depression, procrastination, and other challenges that get in the way of daily functioning. She also integrates mindfulness practices, teaching simple attention and breathing exercises that can reduce mental clutter and make it easier to respond rather than react to stressful situations. When appropriate, elements of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) may be introduced to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills.

Choosing the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to explore goals, preferences, and life context and will adapt techniques so they fit practical needs rather than imposing a single method. Clients are encouraged to ask questions and to provide feedback so the plan evolves together.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These options allow people to engage from home or other convenient locations, fit sessions around work or family commitments, and use different formats for skills practice, check-ins, or in-depth work depending on what feels most helpful.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?

Her practice covers stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, relationship and intimacy-related issues, grief, compassion fatigue, career matters, parenting and many related concerns including chronic pain, multicultural issues, phobias, and caregiver stress.

What therapeutic style can clients expect?

She blends cognitive behavioral methods with mindfulness and client-centered techniques, and may also use DBT skills and motivational interviewing when helpful to address thoughts, emotions, and behavior.

How much clinical experience does the therapist have?

Dr. Ray brings 36 years of experience as a practicing psychologist, which informs her approach to complex concerns like trauma, career barriers, and multicultural matters.

What are her credentials and where is she licensed?

She is a Pennsylvania licensed psychologist and holds the credential PA Psychologist PS005318L and practices in Pennsylvania.

Does she work with clients in languages other than English or outside the U.S.?

Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.

Which session formats are available?

She provides online care through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How are fees and payment handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working together?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a brief matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability; required identification and intake information must be provided before the first appointment.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Self esteem Depression

Also works with

LGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesGuilt and shame Isolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMulticultural concernsPhobias Post-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

36+ years

Licensed

Pennsylvania

Languages

English