Today we’d like to introduce you to Elana Zagorsky.
Hi Elana, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been in the business of sitting with people in their hard moments since I was about seven years old. I was that kid on the playground who couldn’t walk past someone crying without sitting down next to them—I just wanted them to know they weren’t alone, and honestly, I loved the feeling of being able to help. That instinct never really left me, and it’s what led me to become a therapist. My journey into couples therapy however, was a bit unexpected. I started out working in postpartum mental health, and I kept seeing the same pattern: when a couple’s relationship was struggling, it affected everything—the new parents, their partnership, their kids, the whole family system. When things were good between them, however, it changes their entire world and how they move in it. That’s when I realized I wanted to focus on helping couples, because supporting that relationship means supporting everyone it touches. Now, as a certified Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and EMDR therapist, I get to help couples reconnect and individuals heal from trauma, depression, anxiety, life transitions—and I still get that same feeling I had on the playground, knowing I’m helping people feel a little less alone with whatever they’re carrying.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road—and honestly, I’m grateful for that because the bumps taught me so much. Early in my career as a Social Worker, I worked for several non-profit organizations serving individuals with severe mental illness and substance addiction. I accidentally interrupted more drug deals than I can count, and my unhoused clients became my unofficial street-safety advisors, teaching me how to avoid getting mugged on my way to meet them. The relationships I built with these clients were some of the most genuine and wonderful of my career, but it was also heartbreaking work. I was watching our most vulnerable and traumatized citizens receive the least amount of support, while my team gave everything they had with far too few resources to truly make the difference we wanted to make. That experience was hard—but it forever shaped how I see our society. I can’t unsee the people who exist outside the wealthy, visible parts of our world, and I carry that awareness with me in everything I do now. Those years taught me that everyone deserves to be seen, to be supported, and to have someone sit with them in their pain—no matter where they are or what they’re going through.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I run my own private practice, which I love because it means I can create exactly the kind of space I want for my clients. I’m an individual and couples therapist, certified in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) and EMDR practitioner, and I specialize in working with couples, depression, and anxiety. But honestly, what I’m probably most known for is showing up as a real person in the therapy room—not hiding behind clinical jargon or maintaining some distant “expert” persona. I want my clients to feel like they can actually be themselves, to sense that I genuinely care and that I’m fully present with them. And yes, sometimes we laugh together, which I think is just as healing as the hard conversations.
What I’m most proud of? Creating a space where people feel safe enough to drop their masks and do the vulnerable work of healing. Whether it’s a couple learning to reconnect after years of disconnect, or an individual finally processing trauma they’ve carried alone for too long, being trusted with those moments is an honor I never take lightly.
I think what sets me apart is that I’m a forever learner—I’ll never know everything, and I don’t pretend to. I’m genuinely curious about my clients, about new research, about better ways to help. I’m most comfortable with people who show up authentically, so that’s exactly what I try to model. You’re getting the real me in that room, not a polished version, and I think people can feel that difference.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy? Professionally, it’s having a front-row seat to those transformative moments—when a client experiences genuine love and acceptance for themselves, perhaps for the first time, or when they arrive at a significant realization about who they are. Witnessing someone extend grace to themselves and seeing how profoundly that shifts their world is powerful work, and it never gets old. I also love that my dog Potato joins me as a therapy dog in training—she sits with clients during sessions and has a gift for offering comfort exactly when it’s needed.
Outside of the therapy room, I’m drawn to creativity and movement. I love to paint, go camping, and I’m a beginning gardener—which has taught me plenty about patience and embracing the unexpected. Spending quality time with my family and friends is essential for me, and I enjoy exploring new places in nature. Some of my most treasured moments are when I can slow down and be fully present with my kids and husband, laughing and being playful together. Those moments ground me and remind me what truly matters—connection, joy, and appreciating the beauty in everyday life.
Pricing:
- $220 couples
- $200 individuals
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.myencinitastherapist.com
- Instagram: @elanazagorskylcsw
Image Credits
Photos taken by me.
