Ellen Lazar, LCSW, CADC — Therapist for Individuals, Couples, and Families
Ellen Lazar, LCSW, CADC – Experienced Therapist for Individuals, Couples, Families, and Adolescents
From the moment we first spoke, I knew Ellen was an exceptional listener, a thoughtful responder, and a dedicated advocate for her clients. Ellen Lazar is a seasoned therapist, CADC and LCSW, providing therapy across Illinois, Florida, Iowa, Washington DC, Ohio, Georgia, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, Arizona, Utah, Wisconsin, Colorado, Virginia, and Maryland. She began seeing clients with Lynn Zakeri LCSW Clinical Services, PLLC in 2021, and I am grateful she joined me.
Therapy Approach: Holistic, Relational, and Strength-Based
As she listens to her clients describe their histories and relationships, Ellen integrates their physical environment, family dynamics, trauma, developmental stage, and life context into her work. She explains that, “When clients identify patterns they struggle with, they have ‘Aha’ moments; they recognize the how and why of their feelings. That gives them choices for how they want to live: the values, actions, and feelings they want to have and how to create them. This practice is key to rebuilding understanding, empathy, and love in any relationship. From adolescents through adults in any stage of life, relationships are vital to our well-being.” Ellen is also experienced with people who identify as members of the LGBTQIA+ population. She empowers clients as they navigate personal, relational, cultural, and societal challenges.
Areas of Focus: Trauma, Addictions, Anxiety, and Life Transitions
Ellen has extensive training in trauma treatment and substance use (addictions) and works with clients who are navigating eating concerns, anxiety, depression, and the pressures of daily life. She also supports people managing work stress, school demands, parenting challenges, health changes, or relationship difficulties. She is particularly skilled at recognizing how these struggles intersect with family systems, relationships, and developmental transitions. Rather than using one single approach, Ellen tailors her work to the client sitting across from her, drawing on a wide range of therapeutic methods to meet each individual’s needs.
Ellen works with individuals, couples, and families to address challenges unique to each client system—including parenting and family roles, blended families, household responsibilities, financial anxieties, complex friendships, and new or shifting relationships. Clients often discover the ability to engage more proactively, build stronger self-esteem, and feel more confident in how they move through the world.
Couples Counseling: Rebuilding Connection and Communication
For couples, Ellen helps unravel resentments and suppressed emotions, fostering vulnerability and healing. She explains: “Our fast-paced lives, especially when there are children or work demands, often mean that partners don’t have time to process their communication. Without that intentional time, contentious patterns emerge, along with suppressed emotions and resentments.” In couples counseling, she helps partners explore the origins of these emotions, understand how they developed over time, and process vulnerability so the healing can begin.
Therapeutic Methods: Tailored to Each Client
Ellen draws from a wide range of therapeutic approaches—including CBT, DBT, trauma-informed care, attachment theory, and others—always tailoring her methods to the needs of the client in front of her. With decades of clinical experience, she brings not only skill but also perspective and wisdom that help clients feel understood and supported. Clients often describe feeling both understood and gently challenged in Ellen’s care—supported while also encouraged to grow.
Licensed Across Multiple States
Ellen is licensed in Illinois (IL) providing in-person and online therapy, as well as in Florida (FL), Iowa (IA), Washington DC (DC), Ohio (OH), Georgia (GA), Michigan (MI), Indiana (IN), Missouri (MO), Arizona (AZ), Utah (UT), Wisconsin (WI), Colorado (CO), Virginia (VA), and Maryland (MD). She offers in-person therapy in Northfield, IL, as well as virtual and hybrid sessions across multiple states.
If you want to inquire about her openings and schedule with Ellen, I will introduce you right away: Simply send me an email at info@lynnzakeri.com
Thank you as always, for your trust in me.
Lynn
Lynn Zakeri LCSW Clinical Services, PLLC
Posted Previously: Announcing!
You would probably strongly agree that therapy should not add additional stress to your life. That is why I have struggled over the years having to ask clients to juggle times, work around my openings, and even to find other therapists. I recently began the process of trying to find therapists who complement my practice, who are intuitive and smart, and who I would trust if I were looking for a therapist.
I got so lucky. I found some really special people that I now get to call my associates (independent contractors). If you want to learn more aboutEllen, or David, you can simply click their name or find them in my blog posts with announcements about their style and experience. If you want to inquire about their openings and schedule with them, I will introduce you right away, simply send me an email atinfo@lynnzakeri.com
Posted in Therapy
