Ellen Thornton-Love, LCSW

Ellen Thornton-Love is a licensed clinical social worker in Oregon with 20 years of experience. She helps people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, grief, depression, or the fallout from trauma. She also supports parents who are struggling with the demands of caregiving and life changes such as a midlife crisis.

Her work begins with respectful listening. She shapes conversations around what matters most to the person in front of her. Ellen aims to make sessions practical, focused on small steps that fit into daily life rather than abstract theory.

She commonly uses approaches that help people notice thoughts and feelings, set clear goals, and try manageable experiments between sessions. Much of her time is spent helping people cope with strong emotions, improve communication, and make decisions when life feels stuck.

People who come for help often bring complex histories, including family-of-origin issues, attachment concerns, and past abuse. Ellen also supports those facing chronic illness, caregiving strain, or financial stress by breaking problems into parts and finding achievable next steps.

Her style is steady and compassionate. She partners with each person to build a plan that fits their values and daily responsibilities. Taking a first step toward change can feel hard, and she focuses on clear, doable progress rather than perfect outcomes.

Approaches that translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and then choose actions that match their values. It can be useful for anxiety, midlife transitions, and persistent stress. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and testing new behaviors to reduce symptoms like panic, low mood, and worry.

Finding the right approach is part of starting therapy. Ellen will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and may change as work unfolds.

Confirm session formats before booking, since specific options are not listed in the biography. Online work can make therapy easier to fit into a busy life - it can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, and help maintain continuity during life transitions. Talk with the therapist about what rhythm and length of sessions will work best for your routine.