Ellen M. Rugg, MA, MSW, LICSW

                 Welcome to my website. 
 
                When beginning with a new client, my first priority is to build a 
       nonjudgmental, trusting, therapeutic relationship. Our relationship will
       itself, in time, become a powerful agent of change.

              I often work with well-functioning people who are motivated 
      to change, to heal, or to grow. I’m interactive in sessions, 
      and my style is warm and collaborative. Using a strength-based approach,                  I work with  a wide range of life’s problems.  

            For the past 30 years, the belief that most times we have our own answers has guided me, but sometimes, we need help trusting our instincts or uncovering our own answers.   

                 Issues I enjoy working on include life or relationship transitions, growth related to life stage,  patterns/boundaries that are no longer helpful, issues specific to women, issues specific to mid-life,  grief and loss, and rewriting distorted beliefs that originated in childhood.  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                I work collaboratively with each of my clients to create a specific plan based on strengths, needs, and goals. Depending on your specific needs we may 1. work psychodynamically (explore your history to learn how it’s affecting your current life), 2. work cognitive-behaviorally (explore and challenge distorted beliefs/thoughts that may be holding you back), or 3. work to resolve trauma, physical, or sexual abuse by weaving back and forth between the past and the here and now. 
     
                 As a Washington State Approved Supervisor,  I'm grateful to have the opportunity to provide clinical supervision to new generations of psychotherapists. In addition to providing supervision, I also provide consultation to other licensed clinicians, individually and in group. 

                You'll find more detailed information on my experience, approach, and philosophy in my Psychotherapist Disclosure statement, which can be found at the bottom of the Fees, Forms, and Insurance page.

                I'm devoted to my work and consider it a privilege to be part of the therapeutic change process.

​                Feel free to contact me if you believe you and I might be a good therapeutic fit.

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