- Stress and anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Life purpose focus
About Charles
Dr. Charles Hoy-Ellis is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) based in Washington with 21 years of clinical experience. He works with people dealing with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, and concerns common in sexual and gender diverse communities. He also focuses on life purpose, forgiveness, guilt and shame, and isolation or loneliness.
Charles writes from a clinical perspective that links individual struggles to larger social forces. He often helps people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, 2-Spirit, intersex, asexual, or otherwise outside hetero and cisnormative expectations. He has worked in both community and private practice settings and draws on two decades of research about how social structures affect mental and physical health.
His foundational view is psychodynamic and phenomenological. That means he pays attention to how past experiences and the meanings people made of them shape present thoughts, feelings, and behavior. He explains patterns people developed early in life as once-protective strategies that can become limiting over time.
Alongside that perspective, he uses practical tools from cognitive behavioral, narrative, and rational-emotive-behavioral approaches. He describes therapy as a mutual exploration of what happened to someone, rather than a search for what is wrong with them. Sessions blend understanding history with present-focused techniques.
People who come because they feel stuck after changes in work, relationships, or health will find an approach that links personal experience to social context. He invites clients to take a first step and offers collaborative, straightforward work toward clearer direction and meaning.
Therapeutic approaches and how they work online
Dr. Charles Hoy-Ellis uses a psychodynamic and phenomenological perspective alongside practical, evidence-based techniques. The psychodynamic view looks at how early experiences and unconscious motives shape current thoughts and behavior; it helps when patterns repeat and people want to understand why. Narrative approaches focus on the stories people tell about their lives and identities, helping reframe harmful meanings and shape a clearer sense of purpose. Cognitive behavioral and rational-emotive-behavioral techniques offer concrete strategies to test unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors, which can reduce anxiety and low mood.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. He collaborates with clients to decide which methods fit best based on goals, needs, and what feels most useful in day-to-day life. That process is gradual and responsive rather than fixed from the start.
Confirm the specific session formats before booking, as the biography does not list them. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, such as shorter check-ins around work breaks or avoiding travel time. It can also allow sessions when being on camera is not ideal, or when a simpler phone check-in better fits the moment. Licensed professionals can use a mix of methods to help people apply new approaches directly to everyday challenges.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
21+ years
Listed in
Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, and issues common to sexual and gender diverse people. He also focuses on life purpose, forgiveness, guilt and shame, and loneliness.
How does he approach someone feeling stuck?
He combines a psychodynamic and phenomenological perspective with practical tools. That means talking about past experiences and the meanings made of them, while using cognitive and narrative techniques to address current patterns.
What is his clinical experience?
He has 21 years of experience providing psychotherapy in community and private practice settings and has been involved in research on how social structures affect health.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) practicing in Washington State.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the US work with him?
International clients are not currently accepted. He works with people located in Washington.
How are sessions paid for and what does cost look like?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Exact pricing depends on the chosen plan and regional factors.
How do I begin if I want to work with him?
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.