Elena received her Master of Arts in Adlerian Counseling and Psychotherapy degree from Adler Graduate School in Minnesota. After working in the mental health field for 10 years in Minnesota, Elena moved to Hawaii with her family and started to work at Pau Hana Counseling in Hilo.

Elena works with individuals dealing with depression, bipolar depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health disorders and life transitions. She is trained in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy. She likes to help clients overcome traumatic events in their lives. Elena incorporates into her practice DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy), IFS (Internal Family Systems), and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) techniques into her practice to enable clients to manage their emotions and make healthier choices.

Life transitions, relationship difficulties, and mood changes may be devastating sometimes. There are ways to improve or change many of those situations without struggling alone during hard times. Elena’s hope is to help her clients build confidence and learn necessary skills while overcoming life challenges.