Ellie Alvarez
PA #94027925
Ellie@mcaft.com
650-297-3400 x20
Registered Psychological Associate
Supervised by Lisa Macias, PhD, Psy #32178
Location: Half Moon Bay
Fee: $200
Areas of Focus:
Adults: Depression, Life Transitions, Addiction, Trauma, Complex Trauma, Grief, Interpersonal Relationships, Stress, Anxiety, Emotional Regulation, Self-Image, Identity Exploration, Neurodiversity.
Teens and Young Adults: Anxiety, Depression, Self-Esteem, Academic Stress, Neurodiversity, Life Direction, Identity Negotiation, Relationships, Communication.
LGBTQ+ Clients: Relationships, Family Dynamics, Self-Acceptance, Community, Belonging, Navigating the Impacts of Bias or Marginalization. Ellie provides a safe and supportive environment for clients to explore their identities and gain insight into how aspects such as culture, family, and religion shape their sense of belonging.
Modalities:
Ellie uses an integrative therapeutic approach informed by Internal Family Systems (IFS), Principles of Trauma-Informed Care, Relational therapy, and Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT).
Background:
Originally from Sonoma County, Ellie’s early experiences attending and then working at a summer camp near Yosemite sparked her interest in working with people and promoting positive self-worth, connection and belonging. Ellie studied at University of California, Santa Cruz and then spent almost a decade working with children in New York City before returning to the Bay Area for graduate school in Berkeley. Outside of work, Ellie enjoys exploring nature, sketching portraits and figures, tending to her indoor plants, gardening, and spending time with her wife, her dog, and her two cats. Ellie is a warm and thoughtful therapist. Over the past eight years she has worked in various settings across the Bay Area, including private practice, schools, and community mental health centers. She spent two years at a queer mental health center and has supported individuals across many ages, identities, and cultural backgrounds. As a queer person from a multicultural background, Ellie brings a deep understanding of how identity, culture, and systems influence our lives. She listens closely and creates space for honest reflection and personal growth. Clients describe her as warm, steady and engaged. Ellie provides a grounded, compassionate space for clients to explore their patterns and gain greater clarity and self-understanding. She views therapy as a place to slow down, reconnect with oneself, and explore feelings that may feel heavy or unclear. Her approach is grounded in care, respect, and a belief in each person's capacity to grow and heal.
Treatment Approach:
Guided by curiosity, care, and respect for her clients' unique experiences, Ellie employs an integrative, strength-based, relational, and trauma-informed approach. She draws from Internal Family Systems (IFS) and other reflective, client-centered strategies. Ellie fosters a shared space for exploration, where clients feel both supported and challenged in meaningful ways. She strives to bring her full, attentive presence to each session, believing that genuine connection and safety promote deeper self-understanding, where even small insights can lead to significant change. Her goal is to create a warm, collaborative environment where clients can explore feelings of being stuck, build greater self-trust, and reconnect with their strengths and values. Therapy is a partnership characterized by respect, trust, and collaboration, honoring each clients' autonomy and courage.
Ellie offers Telehealth sessions and is currently accepting new clients.
Education and Training:
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology
The Wright Institute, Berkeley, CA
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Community Studies
University of California, Santa Cruz
Clinical and Theoretical Trainings Include:
• Principles of Therapeutic Change
• Multicultural and Sociocultural Competencies
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (CBT, DBT, ACT)
• Psychodynamic Therapy
• Family Systems Therapy
• Narrative Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Neuropsychological Screening and Assessment
• Art and Play Therapy
Additional Coursework and Seminars:
• LGBTQIA+ Psychological Wellness
• Culture and Psychoanalytic Theory
• Working Collaboratively with Kids and Families Using Evidence-Based Principles