Ellen Thrasher , LCSW

Ellen Thrasher is a licensed clinical social worker with 30 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, anger, and depression. She practices in Hawaii and focuses on practical ways to reduce distress. Ellen approaches work with a calm, direct style and centers each conversation on the person in front of her.

She believes clients are the experts in their own stories and builds on existing strengths. Sessions look at what is getting in the way now and what small changes could make daily life easier. Ellen emphasizes clear skills people can use between sessions to cope with difficult moments.

Her experience includes supporting people after traumatic events and helping them manage strong emotional reactions. She also helps clients who struggle with panic, social anxiety, attachment and abandonment wounds, and the long-term impact of chronic illness or pain. Workplace stress and money-related concerns are addressed with practical problem solving.

Ellen draws on approaches that teach skills for emotion regulation, reduce upsetting thoughts, and process past wounds. She uses strategies that fit each person’s needs and pace. The work is collaborative and paced to what feels manageable for the client.

People often come to her when they need steadier coping, clearer communication, or support moving through loss. Ellen offers straightforward feedback, active listening, and a steady presence while clients try new ways of handling life’s challenges.

Approaches and online support for managing trauma and distress

CBT, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, helps people spot unhelpful thoughts and try different ways of thinking and acting. It is often used for anxiety, depression, panic, and workplace or money worries.

DBT, or Dialectical Behavior Therapy, teaches concrete skills for managing intense emotions and improving communication. These skills are useful for anger, panic attacks, social anxiety, and relationship struggles tied to attachment or abandonment concerns.

Trauma-Focused Therapy concentrates on processing past traumatic events at a pace that feels safe for the person. It aims to reduce the power of painful memories and lower day-to-day reactivity after abuse or serious loss.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. Ellen works with each person to match methods to their goals, needs, and comfort level. She will suggest options, try shorter experiments, and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers flexibility for busy schedules and different needs. Video allows face-to-face interaction; phone calls use less bandwidth; chat or messaging can fit quick check-ins or moments when writing feels easier. These formats make it possible to continue consistent work without travel and to fit sessions into a weekly routine.