Elena Spanos, LCSW
Experienced LCSW helping people reshape their stories
Details
| Name | Elena Spanos |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LCSW |
| Based in | Florida |
| Licensed in | Florida |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 25 |
About Elena
Elena Spanos is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship struggles, anger, and life transitions. She offers straightforward support for issues like sleep trouble, low self-esteem, ADHD, bipolar concerns, trauma and abuse, and coping with major changes. She uses a practical, conversational style in sessions.
Elena listens for the stories that shape how people see themselves and their choices.
Background and approach
Together she helps clients notice unhelpful patterns and try small, doable changes that fit their life. Her approach draws on Narrative Therapy to reframe personal stories, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and committed actions, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to examine thoughts and behaviors. She also uses Client-Centered and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills when they fit the situation.
Elena trained in social work and earned a Master of Social Work specializing in Clinical Social Work from Michigan State University after completing a Bachelor of Social Work at the University of South Florida. She became licensed as an LCSW in Florida in 2000 and has worked in schools, homes, outpatient settings, and independent practice since 2002.
Sessions aim to be collaborative and focused on real-life solutions. Clients can expect clear goals, practical tools, and regular check-ins to see what is helping and what needs adjusting.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Family conflicts, Anger management among the things Elena works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Anger management
- Depression
- ADHD
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Sleeping disorders
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intellectual disability
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Narcissism
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Phobias
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Traumatic brain injury
- Trichotillomania
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Elena among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Elena among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Elena among the ways she works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Elena among the ways she works.
- Gottman Method: Listed by Elena among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Elena among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Elena among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Elena among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Elena directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Elena directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How Elena’s Approaches Work Online
Elena uses Narrative Therapy to help people separate themselves from the hard stories they tell about their lives and notice other possibilities. This approach is useful for relationship patterns, identity struggles, and feelings of stuckness. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - ACT helps people clarify what matters most and take small steps toward those values even when strong emotions are present. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to spot thought and behavior patterns that keep problems going and to practice alternative responses that reduce symptoms.Finding the right approach is a shared process. Elena checks in about your goals and preferences and recommends techniques that match your situation. Together you decide which methods to try and adjust them as you go so the work stays relevant and practical.
Online sessions are offered by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversations and visual cues. Phone sessions can fit a break at work or require less bandwidth. Live chat and text messaging suit shorter check-ins, quick coaching, or people who prefer writing. These options help make regular therapy easier to schedule and maintain.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of concerns does Elena help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and family issues, anger, trauma and abuse, grief, sleep problems, self-esteem, ADHD, bipolar concerns, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is conversational and practical. She listens for the stories that shape behavior and helps clients try small changes that fit their everyday life.
What is her professional background?
She has 25 years of experience and has worked in schools, homes, outpatient settings, and independent practice. Her work focuses on helping people find workable solutions.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is an LCSW licensed in Florida and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does cost and subscription work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with therapy?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Elena are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Elena where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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