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Diana Elstad

Therapist · Washington

Diana Elstad

LMHC

Compassionate counselor with decades of experience

  • 35 years' experience
  • Based in Washington
  • Sessions online
  • Speaks English
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  • 35 years experience
  • LMHC in Washington
  • Hospice and end-of-life counseling

About Diana

Diana Elstad is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in Washington. She has 35 years of experience helping people navigate addiction and recovery, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, stress, relationship difficulties, and many other life challenges. Diana aims to be warm, kind, and a careful listener in sessions.

She has worked in community clinics, treatment centers, hospitals, and private practice. That range of settings means she has seen many ways problems show up and change over time. Diana describes her approach as eclectic - she uses ideas from different types of therapy to match each person’s needs.

In sessions she focuses on listening for what isn’t always said and on practical steps that can ease daily life. She draws on Client-Centered methods to create a respectful space and uses Cognitive Behavioral and Dialectical Behavior ideas when thinking about thoughts, behaviors, and coping skills. Motivational Interviewing and Narrative Therapy also inform how she helps people make meaning and find motivation.

Her background includes work related to geriatric mental health and substance use concerns, and she has supported people dealing with caregiving stress, adoption and foster care issues, attachment and abandonment concerns, eating and body-image problems, and chronic emptiness. Diana seeks to tailor the work to each person’s story and goals.

To get started she asks people to complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule sessions based on available times.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

AddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseCoping with life changes

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyLGBTFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Motivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

35+ years

Credentials

Washington

Languages

English

How therapeutic approaches guide online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on understanding each person's experience without judgment. It helps people feel heard and respected while they talk through difficult feelings and decisions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and habits related to sleep, eating, or substance use because it teaches practical skills to change patterns.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, emphasizes building skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. It can help people who struggle with intense emotions, relationship conflicts, and behaviors that feel out of control.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to pick techniques that match their goals, needs, and preferences. That means trying strategies, checking what helps, and adjusting the plan together.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so please confirm current online options before booking. Many people find online sessions helpful because they fit into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Talk with the therapist during the match process about what will best fit your routine and goals.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Diana address in therapy?

She works with a wide range of issues including addiction and recovery, depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief and stress, relationship and intimacy concerns, eating and sleeping issues, parenting strains, and emotional challenges like emptiness and low self-esteem.

What is her general therapy style like?

Her style is warm and client-centered, focused on listening closely and meeting people where they are. She blends methods from several approaches to fit each person’s needs and goals.

How much experience does she have?

She brings 35 years of experience working in community clinics, treatment centers, hospitals, and private practice settings.

What credentials and location are listed?

She is a licensed mental health counselor, LMHC, practicing in the state of Washington.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

Please confirm current session options with the service before booking, as formats are not specified in the biography.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin working with this therapist?

Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.

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