Ellie Mental Health - Mountain Brook, Al

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.

07/24/2025

☀️ Has it been too hot to get your exercise in lately? ☀️
Try some indoor seated exercise at Jefferson County's Get Fit While you Sit event for seniors next week! Call 205-325-5567 to reserve your seat!

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

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.

07/20/2025

Aching joints got you down? 🌧
Come join us at Thirgood Memorial Church for an arthritis education and awareness event!
☀️ July 25th 10:30 am with speakers at 11am

07/16/2025

July is Minority Mental Health Month, a time to raise awareness and push for better access, representation, and support in mental health care for BIPOC communities.

What can help:
- Look for culturally responsive therapists who understand your lived experience
- Explore community-based support like peer groups or faith-based counseling
- Normalize talking about mental health within your family or friend group
- Set boundaries to protect your peace from environments that cause racial stress

Everyone deserves care that feels safe and affirming. Let's keep the conversation going, not just this month, but always.

07/14/2025

No more awkward phone calls or stressing out about writing an email to a stranger. Now you can schedule your therapy appointment entirely online!

Taking that first step on your mental health journey can be scary enough! Stressing over setting the appointment doesn't have to be part of it ☀️
Check our website for online scheduling!

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.

07/07/2025

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.

07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July! 🎆

We hope that you can take a moment to unplug, soak up some sunshine, and be with your favorite people today.

07/03/2025

Meet Kevin Wehby, an amazing new therapist at Ellie Mental Health Birmingham - Mountain Brook! ✨

Kevin earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Alabama. He then received his Master of Arts in Counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health. Since that time, Kevin has been working with clients through community agencies and private counseling practices. Kevin’s work has primarily been with children and adolescents, but he has a wealth of experience working with clients of all ages, families, and couples!

He utilizes an eclectic approach to counseling, leaning heavily on gestalt principles and the tenants of person-centered therapy for case conceptualization, while employing a myriad of evidence-based interventions from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as well as Metacognitive Therapy (MCT), and Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT). Kevin’s goal is to develop a treatment plan as unique as the individual he’s working with in a supportive environment conducive to growth and exploration!

Get started on your mental health journey with Kevin today! He has immediate availability and is accepting most major insurances. Appointment link in Bio! 🙌