About Us
Our Mission
I believe that falling is what teaches us to fly. If you are unwilling to fall, then you cannot learn to fly. It is from this personal belief that I created SOULutions Counseling, a healing space dedicated to people who are seeking change, relief from distress, and answers to questions about their life that make real differences.
My Approach to Therapy
My approach to therapy is grounded in the belief that symptoms have real reasons for their origins and do not exist separately from the events of one’s life, or generically as a part of some disorder without context. I believe people feel depressed or anxious, or otherwise distressed, because there are things in their lives that are depressing, anxiety-provoking, and distressing. My approach is to help people to identify what these things are and to find real solutions toward relief, resolution, and acceptance–solutions that are rooted in a real awareness of one’s Heart and Soul, the essence that embodies the Divine in Humanity and the Self of every person. From my perspective, there is no work more satisfying than this.
Meet Elaina
Education and Experience
I’m a Licensed Independent Social Worker, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and a Master of Social Work from the University of Iowa. I have more than 30 years of clinical experience working with people of all ages and from all walks of life, including children, adolescents and adults.
Personal Life
I have two children, a son and a daughter, and enjoy a diverse range of passions, including art, writing, science, gardening, sheltering monarch butterflies, a voracious appetite for seeking and learning of all kinds, and a sense of adventure and “exploring off the beaten path.” In my own words, “I am a very big fan of the human race, and I am humbled and encouraged by the witness that sometimes in our brokenness, our greatest humanity is born.”
Areas of Expertise
My areas of expertise include treating trauma-related issues and disorders, dissociative disorders, attachment and adoption issues, anxiety and mood issues, anger control problems, relationship difficulties, parenting concerns and child behavior problems and issues with emotional intensity and narcissism. I enjoy utilizing the creative process in my work and may invite individuals to explore and discover themselves further through the use of artistic expression (but never required). I also enjoy working with issues of faith and/or existential concerns, as well as issues that people of high ability, or gifted/talented individuals, commonly find challenging.