Ellen M Rugg, Ellen M Rugg, MA, MSW, LICSW, CPG, PLLC

For 35 years I've had the good fortune to help adults feel better about themselves & their relationships. My style is warm, straight-forward, & collaborative. I use a strength-based approach and have had success helping with a broad range of life's problems. Issues I work well with include: changing relationship patterns, mid-life issues, women's issues, work-life balance, boundaries and "people-pleasing", assertiveness and self-confidence, and grief and loss. I love to work with family-of origin issues, and help to re-work faulty beliefs rooted in childhood. I work collaboratively with each of my clients to create a specific plan based on strengths, needs, and goals. Depending on what your needs are we may: 1. work psychodynamically: The goals of psychodynamic therapy are to increase self-awareness and understanding of how the past has influenced current life. From there you are freed up to experiment with new ways of being. When you take a risk and do something differently it becomes part of who you are. Old patterns are interrupted and new ways of living are created. 2. work cognitive- behaviorally: The goals of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) are to explore how distorted beliefs may be affecting your current feelings & behavior. By exploring and challenging negative or distorted thoughts, you are then challenged to change related feelings and behavior. 3. work to resolve abuse by weaving back and forth between the "here & now" and the past. I also have several non-clinical women's personal development groups and believe strongly in the power of groups. I'm a seasoned group psychotherapist and am a Certified Group Psychotherapist through the American Group Psychotherapy Association. Group Offerings: Midlife Women's Group-- Alternate Wednesday eves 4:15-5:30pm. (75 minutes) $60 per session (This group will have openings in January 2026) "30 Somethings" Women's Group: meets monthly on fourth Friday 12:30-2:15pm (105 min). $80 per session. This group will have openings in January 2026. "30-40 Somethings" Women's Group: meets monthly on fourth Friday 3:00-4:45pm (105 min). $80 per session. This group will have an opening in January 2026. Group often becomes a meaningful touchstone for members—a space to share experiences, gain perspective, and engage in thoughtful, growth-oriented conversations with other women. These groups are not designed to treat mental illness, but to support self-growth, connection, and deeper self-understanding. Members tend to be self-aware, supportive, and content in most life areas. The group environment is encouraging and enriching, rather than focused on crisis support or clinical treatment. I'm also privileged to be a WA State Certified Clinical Supervisor, and enjoy supervising therapist associates as they work toward licensure.

$175 per individual session $60- for groups that meet alternative weeks $80- for groups that meet monthly I am a preferred provider for Lyra plans. I am out-of-network with all other plans and will be happy to provide you with an invoice you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement. Please verify with your plan whether you have out-of-network benefits and what they are. Because my groups are designed for self-growth and support, they do not meet the "medical necessity" criteria in order to be covered by insurance. I love my work and consider it a privilege to be a part of therapeutic change process. Feel free to contact me if you feel that you & I may be a good therapeutic "fit". Sincerely, Ellen M Rugg