Michael Ellis

I've been doing this work for 27 years — and I'm still genuinely curious about the people I work with. I'm an LCSW trained in psychodynamic psychotherapy, which means I care about the whole arc of your life, not just the symptoms showing up right now. I integrate CBT, Internal Family Systems, mindfulness, and expressive arts, including music — depending on what each person actually needs. I'm LGBTQA+-affirming and bring a culturally responsive lens to every session. I don't assume, I ask. I work with adults across New York via telehealth, and I offer superbills that clients can submit to their insurance for potential reimbursement.

My foundation is psychodynamic — I believe that understanding how your past shaped your patterns gives you real leverage over them in the present. From there, I adapt. For clients dealing with anxiety, depression, or trauma, I may bring in CBT skills or IFS parts work to build capacity alongside the deeper exploration. For clients who connect through creativity, music, or art, expressive approaches can reach places that words sometimes can't. I take cultural context seriously — your identity, your history, and your community are part of the work, not separate from it.

Expect a real conversation, not an intake form. I'll ask what brought you in, what you've tried before, and what you're hoping this will actually feel like when it's working. I'll also tell you honestly whether I think I'm the right fit for what you're carrying. Most people leave the first session feeling heard in a way they didn't expect — that's the goal. No homework. No jargon. Just a beginning.