Elly Haddad, LPC-MHSP
Therapy for those processing grief, religious trauma or spiritual abuse, suicide loss, and life reinvention.
Adult Clients • LGBTQ+ Affirming • Secular/Non-Religious
Dealing with grief
Are you dealing with the pending death of a loved one or has someone you loved passed away? Are you having trouble figuring out how to navigate without them? Are you having difficulty managing the accompanying stress or caring for yourself? Others in your life may not understand your reaction to this loss and may believe you should be “over it” by now. Frequently, we feel very much alone during times like this. Grief can make you feel as if your entire world is shattering.
I am here to help you pick up the pieces.
Healing from religious trauma or spiritual abuse
Have you left your faith community because it’s been harmful to you and are now struggling with feelings of guilt, alienation, and self-doubt? Were you negatively impacted by the Purity Culture: sexual dysfunction, self-doubt, inability to form intimate relationships? Perhaps the transition out of your religious community happened years ago but the remnants of your experience linger in your mind and affect many of your everyday interactions. Has your exodus resulted in alienation from once-close loved ones leaving you lonely and feeling adrift? No matter how “out there” you may feel your experience has been, I can provide a safe, non-judgmental space where you can unpack it.
I have both professional and personal experience with this and can help you process.
Reinvention
Have you recently realized that it’s time to make some major changes in your life but you’re unsure how to begin? Sometimes, taking the first step is the most daunting. Perhaps you need support in weighing the pros and cons of your endeavor. A listening ear in a safe space where you are able to talk through the “what if’s” can lead to clarity in even the most bewildering situations. You most likely already know what you want, yet you may lack confidence in your ability to articulate it or follow through.
Whether you are contemplating beginning a new relationship or ending one, starting a family, embarking on a new career path, or some other life-change, I am here to support you on your journey. It’s never too late for a fresh start!
My approach
I began my career in psychotherapy later in life after raising three children and accompanying my husband through numerous corporate relocations. I was drawn to the career of professional counseling after experiencing positive, life-changing experiences through work with my own therapist.
My trauma-informed approach acknowledges both individual and systemic trauma. It is person-centered and holistic, recognizing that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all way of achieving wellness. I have a background in teaching yoga & guided meditation and hold a certificate in Holistic Health from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (NYC, 2009). Prior to attending graduate school, I worked in this capacity for more than a decade with individuals, groups, corporations, and schools throughout the mid-Eastern US to improve overall health through stress-management and mindfulness modalities. I’m trained in Trauma-Focused CBT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), EMDR, Brainspotting, and Integrative Mental Health Counseling. When appropriate, I draw from all of these modalities to help my clients heal through creating strategies for finding a sense of calm, self-knowing, and self-resourcing, even when faced with the potential for intense dysregulation.
I am experienced in working with a broad range of clientele that includes young adults through senior citizens; artists, surgeons, professors, and corporate executives; gay and straight, LGBTQ+ allied.
I would consider it an honor to accompany you on your journey as you make your way toward a healthier future, living the life that feels congruent to you. I provide a safe, judgement-free space where you can get to know yourself better, hear your inner voice more clearly, cultivate greater self-compassion, deepen relationships, and find the peace you’ve been craving.