Ellie Mental Health - Exton, PA

09/02/2025

Back-to-school nerves? Totally normal. Help kids feel more in control with a variety of simple coping skills they can use anytime. What coping skills work best for you or your kids?


https://elliementalhealth.com/locations/exton-pa/

08/05/2025

Back-to-school season is here and for many families, so is back-to-school anxiety.

Whether it’s the fear of new routines, separation from parents, or social pressure, the transition can bring up gigantic feelings for kids of all ages.

In this blog, therapist Miranda Barker, LICSW shares:
✅ Common signs of back-to-school anxiety in kids and teens
✅ Practical tools and coping strategies to try at home and in the classroom
✅ Book recommendations to support emotional wellness
✅ Simple morning and evening routines to ease transitions
✅ When it might be time to seek additional support

Let’s normalize school jitters and empower our kids with the tools they need to thrive (not just survive) the school year. 🍎🎒

📖 Read the full blog here:
https://elliementalhealth.com/calming-first-day-fears-a-parents-guide-to-back-to-school-anxiety/

Help kids conquer back-to-school anxiety with practical tips, calming routines, and coping strategies for a smooth transition.

07/30/2025

Today, on , we hold space for the losses that changed us— the ones we speak of often and the ones we carry quietly.

Whether your grief is fresh or decades old, visible or invisible, your pain is real. We're thinking of you today.

Here are some tips and book recommendations from one of our therapists for helping kids navigate grief and loss.

07/28/2025

Ever zoned out during a meeting, driven somewhere and not remembered how you got there, or felt totally disconnected in a stressful moment?

These aren’t just quirks.... they can be signs of dissociation, a powerful and often misunderstood coping mechanism.

In therapy spaces, we talk about dissociation often. But outside of them, people may not recognize it or know what to do when it shows up. For folks with trauma histories, dissociation isn’t just occasional spacing out—it’s the nervous system protecting itself when things feel too overwhelming to process.

➡️ In this new blog post, Ellie therapist Miranda Barker, LICSW, breaks down:
- What dissociation actually is (and isn’t)
- Why the body uses it as a survival response
- How trauma-informed approaches like EMDR, parts work, and somatic therapy can help
- Practical grounding strategies that reconnect people to the present

Whether you're a clinician, a mental health advocate, or someone who’s felt disconnected and didn’t have a word for it—this is worth the read.

🔗 Check it out here: https://elliementalhealth.com/feeling-disconnected-a-therapists-guide-to-understanding-dissociation/

🎧 Bonus: Watch this related podcast episode featuring trauma therapist Amy Wilkerson, LICSW, for more insights. https://youtu.be/2Cxr5KB8Atg?si=p-mTzj5ZgGmwveOx

Explore how dissociation serves as a trauma coping mechanism and discover therapeutic approaches for healing.

07/26/2025

We’re launching two new groups next month designed to support wellness and personal growth as we head into the busy fall season:

🧘‍♂️ Foundations of Mindfulness Meditation
This three-part workshop is perfect for anyone looking to reduce stress and build core mindfulness and meditation skills. As the school year ramps up, it’s an excellent opportunity to carve out time for self-care.
Led by Mark Weichelt, LAPC, CCTP, a certified Mindfulness Meditation teacher with over 15 years of personal practice.

🎒 Level Up! – A Middle School Transition Group
Starting middle school can bring big changes. This group supports adolescents as they navigate social and emotional challenges during this important transition. It’s also a great way for students to connect with peers in the area.
Facilitated by our amazing Child and Adolescent Therapist, Kayleigh Monahan, LSW.

📅 Spots are limited – sign up today using the QR code or contact me directly with any questions!

07/25/2025

Ever heard of DBT?

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a powerful, evidence-based approach that helps people manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and build a life worth living.

Originally developed for borderline personality disorder, DBT is now used to support anyone struggling with:
💥 Big emotional swings
🧠 Anxiety or depression
🗣️ Conflict in relationships
🧍‍♀️ Feeling stuck in unhelpful patterns

DBT teaches skills in 4 key areas:
Mindfulness
Emotion Regulation
Distress Tolerance
Interpersonal Effectiveness

It’s not just about coping, it’s about thriving with tools that actually work.

07/22/2025

Understanding your health insurance doesn’t have to be scary, in fact, the more you know, the more you can avoid surprise bills. In this video, we break down key terms like premiums, deductibles, copays, and coinsurance, and explain how benefit checks really work behind the scenes. 🧾✨

07/21/2025

Our Meditation Workshop is back! 🧘‍♂️ Join Mark to explore the Foundations of Mindfulness Meditation. Discover techniques to calm your mind, lessen stress, and boost focus. Scan the QR code to reserve your spot today! 🌿

07/15/2025

In a recent blog post, Ellie therapist Dr. Christy Sim, LMSW, breaks down a critical truth about trauma work: traditional talk therapy often misses the mark when it comes to treating trauma, because it relies on language and cognition—parts of the brain that shut down during traumatic events.

Sometimes trauma healing requires more than words. Some alternate options might be to:
🎨 Use imagery to engage the midbrain
✍️ Let writing come before speaking
🗣 Gently assign language after connection is made

Trauma disconnects people from their voice, their sense of safety, and their agency. The right kind of therapy can give all of that back.

Read the full article:

Explore trauma healing beyond talk therapy: art, writing & somatic exercises for creative, consent-based empowerment.

07/11/2025

Most of us listen to respond, not to understand.

Active listening is a skill, and it doesn't always come naturally. It means slowing down, staying present, and showing someone that their words matter. Here are a few tips:

👂 Put your phone away
⏸ Pause before responding
🧠 Reflect back what you hear
❓ Ask questions, not solutions
💬 Validate their feelings

Want to get better at it? Try one of these tips in your next conversation and see what shifts.

07/08/2025

Struggling with self-confidence? You’re not alone.

Swipe through for small mindset shifts and practical tools that can help you build lasting confidence-- straight from one of our awesome therapists, Rayna Larson, LLMSW.

Read more here: https://elliementalhealth.com/building-self-confidence-8-practical-tips-to-boost-your-self-esteem/

07/07/2025

What if building confidence wasn’t about “faking it”, but about changing the way you relate to yourself?

In a recent blog, Ellie therapist Rayna Larson, LLMSW, shares 8 practical ways to build self-confidence, and it goes far beyond pep talks and mirror affirmations.

A few tips that really stood out:
✔️ Challenge negative self-talk: Start with notice, evaluate, replace.
✔️ Celebrate small wins: Your progress counts, even when it’s not loud.
✔️ Practice assertiveness: Saying no can be an act of self-care.
✔️ Lean on positive influences: Your environment matters more than you think.

Self-confidence isn’t a trait you’re born with, it’s a skill you can build. Whether you’re navigating burnout, people-pleasing, or just feeling stuck, Rayna’s piece offers grounded, compassionate strategies that anyone can try.

Read the full blog here:

Boost your self-confidence with practical strategies: challenge negative self-talk, set achievable goals, embrace strengths & communicate assertively.