- Stress and anxiety
- Social anxiety
- CBT and ACT
About Elaine
Elaine Maher is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Washington with 20 years of professional experience. She works with people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, depression, and life changes. Elaine also focuses on social anxiety and phobia alongside issues such as panic attacks, loneliness, and guilt.
Her approach starts with listening. She lets clients describe what feels most urgent and then shapes conversations around those concerns. Sessions use straightforward, goal-oriented talk rather than jargon. Clients can expect practical steps alongside reflection about values and priorities.
Elaine draws on several evidence-informed methods. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is used to identify personal values and to build small, meaningful actions toward them. Narrative and mindfulness practices are woven in to help people reframe stories they tell about themselves and to practice calm attention.
She often helps people handle specific social fears like speaking up, meeting new people, or feeling watched. She also supports those coping with loss and major life transitions, focusing on skills for getting through hard moments and reconnecting with purpose.
Sessions are practical and conversational. Elaine aims to clarify next steps, teach coping strategies, and review progress together so people know what changed and what to try next.
How her approaches work in online sessions
Elaine commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in her work. CBT focuses on noticing thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and then testing small changes to see what helps. ACT centers on clarifying what matters most to a person and taking small actions that line up with those values even when feelings are difficult.She also brings in mindful attention and narrative techniques to help people slow down and reframe unhelpful stories about themselves. Choosing the right mix of methods is part of the work; she collaborates with each person to decide what feels most useful based on their goals and preferences.
Confirm which session formats are currently offered before booking, as specific options are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Therapists can also adapt exercises for audio or video sessions, and they will discuss the practical setup so sessions fit everyday life without adding extra strain.
Areas of expertise
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes, including social anxiety and panic attacks.
What is her general therapy style?
Her style is conversational and practical, focusing on clear steps, coping skills, and values-based choices rather than long clinical lectures.
How much experience does she have?
Elaine has 20 years of professional experience working with a range of emotional and life transition issues.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) licensed in Washington.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the US work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and what formats are used?
Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Use the booking flow to see which session types are available.
How does payment work and what does it cost?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.