ChangeAtYourPace.org Need help now?

Therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp. We will earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you use our links to purchase.

Catherine Elzie

Catherine Elzie

LCSW

Oregon

Compassionate, practical care for mood and trauma

Continue with Catherine

At a glance

Credentials
LCSW
License
LCSW, Oregon / L13618
Experience
15 years
Languages
English
Location
Oregon

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.

    • Motivational Interviewing
    • LGBTQ+ affirming
    • Practical coping skills

    About Catherine

    Catherine Elzie is a licensed clinical social worker with 15 years in mental health. She helps people facing depression, bipolar mood challenges, trauma and abuse, relationship concerns, and LGBT-related issues. Catherine aims for a direct, respectful approach that treats clients as the experts on their own lives.

    She often brings humor and warmth into sessions when it fits, and emphasizes acceptance around body size using a Healthy at Every Size perspective. She describes her work as LGBTQ+ affirming and sex positive. Clients can expect a nonjudgmental tone and a focus on practical next steps.

    Catherine draws on several evidence-informed methods to tailor care to each person. She uses Motivational Interviewing to explore readiness for change, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help clients name values and build purposeful action. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are also part of how she supports mood regulation and coping.

    Her background includes substantial experience with post-traumatic stress, including childhood and generational trauma, and with veteran concerns. She also helps people with chronic illness or pain, communication problems, and issues that arise from family of origin dynamics.

    Education includes a Master of Social Work from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She holds an LCSW license in Oregon and New Mexico and brings years of substance-abuse experience to her clinical work.

  2. How Catherine’s approaches shape online work

    Motivational Interviewing helps people weigh their own reasons for change. It uses open questions and reflective listening to clarify goals and reduce resistance. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on identifying values and taking small steps that match those values while recognizing difficult thoughts and feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, looks for unhelpful thought patterns and builds practical skills to change behaviors and moods.

    Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Catherine will collaborate with each person to select strategies that fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That may mean trying different techniques and adjusting plans as progress is made.

    Confirm current session options before booking, since specific formats are not listed in the profile. Online therapy can make scheduling easier and help sessions fit into busy lives. It can also allow for shorter check-ins when time is tight, let someone choose not to use video, or reduce travel time by meeting from wherever they are. Licensed professionals generally aim to match session rhythm and frequency to what works best for the client.

  4. Areas of expertise

    Primary focus

    LGBTRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseBipolar disorderDepression

    Additional focus areas

    AbandonmentChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsFamily of origin issuesFirst responder issuesGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameLife purposeMen's issuesVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSexual assault and abuseSexualityWomen's issues

    Therapeutic approaches

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

    Experience

    15+ years

    Listed in

    Oregon

    Languages

    English

  5. Frequently asked questions

    What concerns does Catherine help with?

    She works with depression, bipolar mood disorders, trauma and abuse, relationship issues, and LGBT-related concerns. Additional focuses include chronic pain, communication problems, and veteran issues.

    How would you describe her therapeutic style?

    Catherine takes a collaborative, down-to-earth approach. She aims to be warm and nonjudgmental, and uses humor when appropriate.

    What experience does she bring to therapy?

    She has 15 years of experience in mental health and two decades of substance-abuse work, with particular experience in PTSD, veteran concerns, and mood disorders.

    What credentials and location are listed?

    She holds an LCSW and practices in Oregon, with licensure also in New Mexico noted in her background information.

    Which languages are sessions offered in?

    Sessions are offered in English.

    Can people outside the country work with her?

    International clients are not currently accepted.

    How does payment and cost work?

    Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

    What are the first steps to begin working together?

    Click the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

  6. Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers

Back to all therapists

Catherine Elzie Continue with Catherine