Elena Spanos

Elena Spanos is a licensed clinical social worker with 25 years of experience helping people cope with life changes, stress, anxiety, grief, and relationship struggles. She focuses on practical steps clients can take to feel more in control and to make daily life more manageable.

Elena uses straightforward conversation and evidence-based methods to identify thought patterns and behaviors that cause pain. Sessions are built around what the client wants to change and small, doable steps toward those goals. She avoids quick fixes and instead helps people find tools that fit their life and values.

Her background includes an Associate in Science in Human Services Technology, a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of South Florida, and a Master of Social Work with a clinical focus from Michigan State University. Elena became licensed as an LCSW in 2000 and has worked in schools, outpatient settings, homes, and in private practice since 2002.

In therapy she draws from approaches such as client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and the Gottman Method for relationship issues. She blends these methods to match what each person needs rather than following one single model.

Elena welcomes people who are navigating major life transitions, coping with trauma or loss, managing mood concerns, or trying to repair communication in close relationships. She works to make sessions clear, practical, and focused on real-life change.

How different approaches fit online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on helping people notice what matters to them and take small steps toward those values. It can help with anxiety, depression, and navigating life changes by teaching practical actions tied to personal goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and behaviors keep problems going and teaches concrete skills to change both. It is useful for mood, anxiety, sleep, and many daily challenges. The Gottman Method offers structured ways to improve communication and repair relationship patterns, often with clear exercises for couples to practice.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to choose methods that match a client's goals and preferences, and may combine elements from different approaches to fit each person. Clients are invited to give feedback so the plan can be adjusted over time.

Confirm current session options before booking because specific online formats are not listed in the biography. In general, online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, shorten travel time, and let people attend from quieter or more convenient places. It can also allow for shorter check-ins when schedules require it. Ask about the available formats when scheduling so sessions can be arranged around everyday life.