Catherine Elzie , LCSW

Catherine Elzie is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 15 years of mental health experience. She helps people facing depression, bipolar symptoms, trauma and abuse, relationship struggles, and LGBT-related concerns. Her style is warm and down-to-earth, and she often brings a light touch or humor when it fits.

Catherine takes a collaborative approach and treats the person as the expert on their life. She is body positive, uses a Healthy at Every Size approach, and affirms LGBTQ+ identities. Sessions aim to be practical and direct, with the client and therapist setting goals together.

Her background includes work with post-traumatic stress and trauma that comes from childhood or across generations. She has experience addressing veteran issues and caring for people who have faced sexual assault and abuse. She also supports those dealing with chronic illness, pain, and life transitions.

Catherine trained in social work and holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her earlier studies include a bachelor’s degree in Politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She draws on several therapeutic methods to match what a person needs in the moment.

In sessions, clients can expect clear options and tools to try between meetings. Catherine aims to build skills people can use in everyday life, such as managing strong emotions, improving communication, or making values-based choices. The work is paced to each person’s goals and comfort level.

Therapeutic approaches applied to online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying what matters most to a person and taking committed steps toward those values while learning to accept difficult thoughts and feelings. This approach can help with mood concerns, life direction, and ongoing stress. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and teaches practical strategies to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is often useful for depression, mood symptoms, and improving daily functioning. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes skills for managing intense emotions, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and tolerating distress; it can be especially helpful for people who need concrete tools to handle crises and strong reactions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, and then tailor methods over time. Clients and the therapist review progress and adjust the plan as needed so the work fits the person’s life.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect: video calls for face-to-face discussion, phone sessions for lower bandwidth or when not on camera, live chat for shorter check-ins, and text-based messaging for ongoing support between sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving, or mobility limitations and let people choose what works best for each moment.