Elizabeth Alanis

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of experience supporting adults in healing relational wounds, emotional distress, and long-standing patterns that interfere with well-being and connection. My work is grounded in a strong clinical foundation and enriched by decades of advanced training in depth psychology, trauma-informed care, and relational systems.

I hold a Master of Social Work from Fordham University School of Social Services. My postgraduate clinical training includes psychoanalytic studies at The Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies in New York, advanced training in cognitive-behavioral therapy with a specialized focus on trauma and disruptive behavior disorders through the New York State Office of Mental Health in partnership with Columbia University, and structural family therapy training at the Minuchin Institute.

In addition to these foundations, I have completed postgraduate certificates in Jungian Psychology through The Centre for Applied Jungian Studies in Johannesburg, South Africa, and hold certifications in Voice Dialogue and the Mandala Assessment Research Instrument (MARI), both of which support deep insight into internal dynamics, identity, and unconscious patterns.

Alongside my clinical training, I was initiated as a shamanic practitioner, and I am also a long-term student of the Mayan body of Earth-based wisdom known as The Origin Teachings of the Delicate Lodge, whose teachings are centered on the wisdom of the medicine wheel to know and understand yourself, others, and the world.

All of this training informs a therapy practice that is both psychologically rigorous and deeply human—one that honors evidence-based care while recognizing the importance of meaning, inner life, and the integration of all parts of the self.

My approach is client-centered, integrative, and relational. I combine evidence-based modalities such as cognitive-behavioral therapy and structural family therapy with depth-oriented frameworks inspired by Jungian psychology, attachment theory, and parts work. I also draw from symbolic and somatic perspectives, including the Medicine Wheel, to help clients understand patterns, meaning, and internal balance.

At the heart of my work is creating a safe, compassionate space where all parts of you are welcome—including the parts shaped by pain, shame, or survival. Often, these rejected or hidden aspects are not problems to eliminate, but vital pieces of your wholeness waiting to be understood and integrated.

Therapy with me is collaborative and intentional. Together, we explore what is happening beneath the surface, gently interrupt unhelpful patterns, and cultivate self-understanding, emotional regulation, and healthier ways of relating—to yourself and to others.

Your first session is a warm, nonjudgmental conversation where you can begin exactly where you are. We will take time to explore what brought you to therapy, the challenges you are facing, and what you are hoping might change. I will ask thoughtful questions to understand your story, your relationships, and the patterns shaping your current experience.

There is no pressure to share more than you are ready to. My goal is for you to feel genuinely heard, respected, and supported. By the end of the session, we will begin identifying what matters most to you and clarifying next steps, so you leave feeling grounded, understood, and hopeful about the work ahead.