Margolis Ellen B, PHD

History

The adolescents I see in counseling are often struggling with issues of identity, control and self-esteem which emerge as conflicts with parents and peers. Some are depressed, many are anxious. Some have dealt with the loss of a parent, some have resorted to self-destructive behaviors such as cutting or taking drugs. I meet with the adolescent in psychotherapy along with their parents periodically. The adults I see in psychotherapy include the range of adult life, from those trying to find a place in life, in the workplace or in a relationship, to those considering moving to independent living situations. Issues of anxiety, depression, loss and bereavement are most common focuses of psychotherapy. Substance abuse and sexual abuse, past or present, are also concerns of counseling. PTSD, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, most often resulting from histories of childhood emotional, physical and sexual abuse is not an uncommon topic of therapy. I have also focused on conducting psychological

Specialties

Psychotherapy Private Practice with over 30 years of experience in counseling adults, adolescents and children in the San Diego area. The breadth of my experience enables me to provide a supportive approach tailored to each person's personality, needs, and life stage on a wide range of issues including depression, anxiety, and life transition. Central to psychotherapy is the therapeutic relationship in which the individual is listened to and heard in ways that lead to understanding one's experiences in a new light and valuing oneself more deeply. In our fast paced world where others infrequently take time to listen to us and we do not or have not learned to take time to listen to ourselves, psychotherapy provides that opportunity.