Ellen Singer Coleman, LCSW
I am a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist, in private practice for 40+ years. I have always believed that many of the difficult challenges one encounters in adult life are rooted in problematic and unresolved interpersonal relationships from our formative years. From the beginning of my clinical practice, my approach was grounded in relationally oriented psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. After years of experience working with adults, it became clear to me that so many of my clients had grown up in traumatic family environments characterized by abusive or neglectful relationships. They were able to accommodate to these painful circumstances by adapting strategies that helped them survive difficult times. As they matured and moved onto more independent lives, however, these learned behaviors, emotional reactions, beliefs about themselves, and relationships to others were no longer adaptive. Instead, enduring patterns created psychological, emotional and physical symptoms. Following my clinical experiences and observations, I was drawn to the more experiential forms of therapy aimed at addressing developmental trauma.
Personal
I love my work as a therapist, and pride myself in being a life-long learner. When not engaged in my clinical work, I keep busy with studying Spanish and weight training. I love spending time with my husband, family and friends, and enjoy traveling, cooking and gardening with them. I am drawn to all the visual arts including decorative arts, photography, painting, and sculpture. I also am a fan of film, theater, dance and music.
To learn more, please see my profile on Psychology Today. Click here