Works with
- Anger
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Career difficulties
- Depression
How Ellen works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LICSW
- Licensed in
- Minnesota
- Years in practice
- 15
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Ellen
Ellen Dinsmore is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, anger, addictions, and life transitions. She keeps language simple and direct so worried parents and busy adults can quickly understand what to expect. Ellen emphasizes practical steps and clear goals in sessions.
She draws on 15 years of clinical experience to help people sort through overwhelming emotions and make manageable changes. Sessions focus on identifying small, concrete actions and building routines that reduce distress.
Background and approach
Ellen uses talk, reflection, and skill practice rather than technical jargon. Her style is collaborative and down to earth. She listens first, then works with each person to set realistic goals and try ways of coping that fit daily life.
Clients are invited to test techniques and see what helps them most. Ellen blends evidence-based methods such as cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness with acceptance-oriented work and motivational interviewing. This mix supports people facing addiction, grief, relationship strain, or shifts in mood and identity.
She aims to make sessions a straightforward place for learning and problem solving. Ellen pays attention to practical barriers and teaches repeatable skills so people can use them between meetings. The focus is on small wins that add up over time.
What Ellen works with
Everything Ellen lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Ellen's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Adoption and foster care
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Codependency
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Gender dysphoria
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Personality disorders
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
Approaches Ellen lists
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on helping people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. It is useful for anxiety, depression, anger, and life transitions where someone wants more meaning and direction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches practical skills to change patterns that cause distress. It often helps with anxiety, mood problems, and managing cravings in addiction. Motivational Interviewing is a brief, goal-oriented method that helps people find their own reasons to make changes and stay motivated, which can be especially useful for substance use and behavior change.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Ellen will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their needs, goals, and preferences. She encourages trying techniques in real life and adjusting the plan based on what works for the individual.
Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation for skill practice, phone sessions can be a good low-bandwidth option, live chat supports quick check-ins, and messaging works for short updates or when people prefer writing. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent around work, family, and other obligations.
Questions people ask about Ellen
What concerns does Ellen help with?
She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, anger, addictions, grief, relationship and family issues, and other mood or trauma-related struggles.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is collaborative and down to earth. She listens first, then helps set realistic goals and practical steps to try between sessions.
What kind of clinical experience does she have?
She brings 15 years of professional experience working with a wide range of concerns, including mood disorders, trauma, and substance-related issues.
What credentials and location are listed?
She holds a Minnesota Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker credential, shown as MN LICSW, and practices from Minnesota.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging for flexible ways to connect.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a time according to therapist availability.