Ellen Ostroff

EFT Helps Couples Form Solid Bonds

A graduate of Bryn Mawr College with a master of science in clinical social work, Ellen Ostroff, LCSW operates a private psychotherapy practice for individuals and couples in the Philadelphia area. Ellen Ostroff, LCSW utilizes modalities such as dialectical behavior therapy and emotionally focused therapy (EFT), a structured form of couples therapy that works with negative communication patterns.

EFT is a psychotherapy approach developed in tandem with adult attachment theory, which deals with the ways adults form and maintain intimate relationships. Based on clear, explicit research, EFT aims to help couples order and reorganize key emotional responses. Therapy sessions might help couples identify patterns such as “pursue-withdraw” or “criticize-defend” and explore new ways to interact and bond with each other.

Couples learn to communicate emotions from a space of vulnerability and ask clearly for what they need, as well as to view undesirable behavior as evidence of an unmet need rather than a personal attack. According to research, approximately 90 percent of couples undergoing EFT report significant improvements in their relationships.

Mindfulness Meditation as a Way to De-Stress and Focus on the Present

Psychotherapist Ellen Ostroff, LCSW, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania performs both individual and couple therapies. Outside of her profession, Ellen Ostroff, LCSW engages in mindfulness meditation.

Mindfulness facilitates a person’s ability to think clearly and not become overly reactive to triggers in the environment. The purpose of mindfulness meditation is to remedy the effects of stress on the body. According to The Harvard Gazette, eight out of ten people suffer from stress, which leads to conditions such as hypertension, stroke, and other illnesses. Mindfulness meditation addresses stress by training the person to focus on bodily sensations, thoughts, emotions, and breathing.

The best part of mindfulness meditation is that training the mind can be applied to many chores. For example, being aware of any actions and movements while doing chores is a way to practice this technique. Those training to be more mindful can use this technique to get the most out of a workout. The only caveat is that participants have to disengage from their technology and focus on breathing and motion.

The Basics of EMDR Treatment

A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with a master of science in clinical social work from Bryn Mawr College, Ellen Ostroff has operated her own general psychotherapy practice in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the past 12 years. Among her other areas of expertise, Ellen Ostroff, LCSW, has completed extensive training in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy.

A relatively new psychotherapy modality, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) treatment involves experiencing emotional triggers and reliving trauma in a controlled clinical setting while a therapist directs patients eye movements in a rapid and rhythmic fashion.

EMDR therapy has grown steadily in popularity over the last several years. Practitioners have found it particularly effective in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Therapists have also used EMDR treatment to help alleviate depression and anxiety, as well as assist patients with addiction, eating disorders, and panic attacks.

Experts posit that EMDR therapy is effective because remembering disturbing events can be less emotionally distressing when patients are physiologically distracted. Therefore, they can experience troubling memories while muting their psychological response.