Elliott Lugo, LCSW

Elliott Lugo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Illinois with 17 years of experience in mental health settings. He works with adults and teens on challenges like depression, anxiety, ADHD, substance use, parenting strain, relationship problems, and struggles with purpose. Elliott aims to help people identify what gets in the way of moving forward and develop practical steps to change. He begins by listening to what matters most to each person. Elliott talks through how clients see themselves and others, and what might be holding them back. That helps highlight unhelpful thoughts, behaviors, and skill gaps that keep problems stuck. Sessions focus on clear, manageable approaches rather than jargon. Elliott draws from cognitive behavioral techniques to notice and change thinking patterns, plus dialectical behavior ideas for emotional regulation. He also uses attachment-based and client-centered methods to strengthen relationships and personal insight. Elliott keeps sessions straightforward and practical. He breaks complex issues into everyday language and helps people build new skills they can use between meetings. Session length is typically 45 to 50 minutes, with shorter options available on request. He communicates by responding to messages in late afternoons or the next morning when possible, and is usually out of the office Fridays and Saturdays. If a message is left on those days, he typically replies by Sunday morning. Elliott invites people to discuss fit and will help find a better match if needed.

How Elliott brings therapeutic approaches to online work

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, helps people notice thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and then try small changes to test new ways of thinking. It is often used for anxiety, depression, ADHD-related struggles, and coping with life changes.

Attachment-based work looks at how early relationship patterns shape current connections. It can help people who have trust, closeness, or communication difficulties by exploring how they relate to others and practicing new interaction skills.

Elliott treats finding the right approach as a team effort. He will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, and then try approaches together to see what fits best. If an approach does not seem to help, he will adapt the plan collaboratively.

Online therapy with Elliott is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation and exercises that benefit from visual cues. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is needed. Chat and text messaging can support brief check-ins, skill practice, and flexibility between full sessions. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, school, or family schedules while maintaining consistent progress.