At a glance
- Credentials
- LCSW
- License
- LCSW, Illinois / 149.022246
- NPI
- 1942647599
- Experience
- 17 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Illinois
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
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- Practical skill building
- Calm nonjudgmental style
- Motivational approach
About Elliott
Elliott Lugo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Illinois with 17 years of experience helping people work through anxiety, depression, addiction, parenting challenges, and ADHD. He speaks plainly and aims to make sessions feel straightforward and useful. Elliott typically meets for 45-50 minute sessions but can shorten them when that helps. He checks messages in the late afternoons or early evenings and usually replies by the next morning; he is out of the office on Fridays and Saturdays.
Over his career Elliott has worked in different settings with teens and adults who struggle with mood and behavioral concerns. He focuses on identifying what gets in the way of change, talking about what matters most to you, and considering what might happen if you try something different. That process helps highlight skills and actions that could be changed to improve daily life.
In sessions he aims for a calm, non-judgmental tone and avoids jargon. Elliott breaks complex ideas into plain language so time is spent on practical steps. He uses a mix of approaches including Motivational Interviewing, Attachment-Based ideas, client-centered listening, and cognitive-behavioral strategies to match the person’s needs.
Elliott also offers support around trauma, relationship and family stresses, grief, anger, and issues like codependency or substance use. He believes a good fit matters, and will help arrange a referral if another therapist would better meet someone’s needs.
To work with Elliott, people complete a short questionnaire and schedule sessions based on his availability. He asks that prospective clients know he does not work on Fridays or Saturdays and that message responses follow the schedule above.
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How Elliott’s approaches translate to online therapy
Motivational Interviewing helps people clarify what matters to them and resolve mixed feelings about change. It uses open questions and reflective listening to find personal reasons for taking steps forward and can be useful for issues like substance use or motivation for new habits.
Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape expectations and current relationship patterns. It can help people who struggle with trust, closeness, or repeated conflict by focusing on emotions and how they are expressed in relationships.
Elliott treats finding the right approach as a team effort. He will work with the client to choose or combine techniques based on goals, preferences, and what is working in early sessions. That collaborative process makes it easier to adapt when needs change.
Confirm the exact session formats before booking, as current options are listed during sign-up. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, avoid travel time, and have shorter check-ins when a full session isn't needed. It also makes it possible to keep continuity when schedules or locations change. Therapists and licensed professionals can discuss which session length fits daily routines during the first scheduling steps. -
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Relationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefEating disordersParenting issuesAnger managementBipolar disorderCoping with life changesADHDAdditional focus areas
Attachment issuesBlended family issuesCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Domestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-harmSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issuesYoung adult issuesTherapeutic approaches
Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyExperience
17+ years
Listed in
Illinois
Languages
English
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Frequently asked questions
What issues does Elliott focus on?
He helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, ADHD, parenting challenges, relationship and family concerns, grief, eating issues, anger, bipolar symptoms, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe his therapy style?
Sessions are plainspoken and collaborative, focusing on identifying barriers to change and building practical skills using approaches like motivational and client-centered methods.
What is his professional background?
Elliott has 17 years of experience working in a variety of settings with teens and adults on mood, behavior, and substance use concerns.
What credentials and region are listed?
He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with an Illinois LCSW and practices in Illinois.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with him?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are fees and payments handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.
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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