Ellis Counseling

Ellis Counseling Ellis Counseling offers professional counseling services for children, adolescents, adults, and couples.

We provide trauma-informed care, Christian counseling, addiction counseling, social skills groups, and support for life’s challenges. Services Provided:

Individual Therapy- If you are experiencing feelings of depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, anger, loneliness, grief, or if you are dealing with physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, the counselors at Ellis Counseling are here to help. We accept

many different insurance policies and are currently accepting new clients. Couples therapy- The core of our relational counseling is helping couples develop a deeper connection. Conflict in relationships is simply growth trying to happen. Divorce, separation, and custody are also three stressful situations. At Ellis Counseling we have experience working with adults and children who have or are experiencing the stressors related to divorce and separation. It would be our pleasure to help during these stressful times. Children and Adolescent therapy- We work with children and adolescents, including those from foster care and adoptive backgrounds, as well as children and adolescents with problematic behaviors and self-esteem issues. Often teens are suffering from dealing with grief or sexual abuse. We have experience in these areas and often use play therapy, applied behavior analysis and cognitive behavioral therapy and brain spotting as approaches to resolving the issues. Perinatal Mental Health Counseling- 1 in 7 parents will experience severe mood changes and disruptions after birth. Perinatal mental health counseling is focused on alleviating and coping with the stressors associated with childbearing. Including the issues associated with miscarriage, infertility, birth trauma and childbirth. The utilization of evidence based on counseling techniques are proven to positively impact the lives of those involved. Brainspotting- Brainspotting is a powerful, focused treatment method that works by identifying, processing, and releasing core neurophysiological sources of emotional/body pain, trauma, dissociation, and a variety of other challenging symptoms. BSP makes use of the natural phenomenon of where you look affects how you feel through its use of relevant eye positions. Together the therapist and client pair a fixed eye position and body sensation to an unresolved issue. This rapid, highly affective mind/body centered therapy technique appears to go beyond the cognitive awareness and connects one tohis/her body's innate wisdom to heal itself. Substance Abuse Counseling- We have an addiction specialist credentialed to provide the ASAM assessment and addiction counseling. Often treatment centers require an ASAM for admission and we are able to offer the assessment and appropriate referral. Trauma Focused Counseling- Trauma affects many people and they struggle alone to have a healthy life and relationships. Years of scientific research have manifested counseling techniques that show promising results to alleviate the effects of trauma. We have many theoretical approaches we use to help clients function better and integrate their trauma positively into their life. Christian Counseling- We have counselors on staff that are able to address issues of Christian faith such as: cognitive dissonance, self loathing and losing faith. Using principles of Christian faith with biblical fidelity and a Christian worldview can aid clients in resolving their issues through faith.

09/08/2026

Window of Tolerance 🪟

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Hyperarousal: Fight/Flight Response
- Anxiety and Panic
- Anger outbursts
- Emotional overwhelm
- Physical symptoms such as tension, shaking, heart racing, breathing quickly, teeling sick
- Feeling unsate
- Unable to rest
- Defensiveness
- Racing thoughts

Window of Tolerance: Feeling in control, safe, & able to regulate emotions.

Things that shrink our window:
- Stress
- Trauma
- Anxiety
- Grief/Loss
- Physical illness
- Poor sleep
- Poor nutrition

Things that expand our window
- Self care
- Hobbies
- Movement
- Deep breathing
- Social support
- Positive self talk
- Mindfulness

Hypoarousal: Freeze Response
- Depression/Low Mood
- Emotional numbness
- Detachment
- Low Energy
- Dissociation
- Inability (or lack of desire) to speak
- Memory loss

09/07/2026
09/07/2026

You do not need a perfect life to feel better. Sometimes, you just need to make room for more of what brings you joy.

📣 New Group Starting September 17!We’re excited to offer a Social Skills Group for preteens and teens beginning in just ...
09/03/2026

📣 New Group Starting September 17!

We’re excited to offer a Social Skills Group for preteens and teens beginning in just a few weeks.

This group is designed for young people who may experience social anxiety, difficulty navigating social situations, communication challenges, or low confidence. Through supportive group discussions, interactive activities, and skill-building exercises, participants will have opportunities to learn, connect, and practice skills in a comfortable environment.

📅 Biweekly Thursdays at 5:00 PM
🗓️ Beginning September 17
👥 For preteens & teens

If you have a child or teen who may benefit from this group, please call our office to learn more or get them signed up! Space is limited, so we encourage interested families to reach out soon.

08/28/2026

Scientists have discovered the first-ever link between the human microbiome and psychopathic traits.

It indicates that our gut and oral bacteria influence psychopathy.

A team led by biomedical scientist Carolina Costa at the University of Porto examined 200 participants, analyzing their gut and oral bacteria alongside standardized psychological tests that measure subclinical psychopathy—a construct characterized by low empathy, impulsivity, and poor behavioral control.

The team discovered that while overall microbial diversity remained similar, individuals scoring higher in psychopathic traits possessed a significantly higher abundance of specific gut bacteria, including Allisonella, Prevotella, and Cloacibacillus evryensis, along with distinct metabolic differences in f***l glucose and taurine.

While these findings are bound to spark controversy, researchers emphasize that this correlation does not prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship; it remains unclear whether these specific microbes drive psychopathic behaviors or if lifestyle factors associated with these traits shape the microbiome.

However, this study adds a fascinating layer to our understanding of the 'gut-brain axis,' suggesting that biological markers of complex personality disorders may extend far beyond brain structure. As science continues to map the profound ways our internal ecosystems communicate with our minds, these findings could eventually open up novel, microbiome-targeted avenues for psychological research and behavioral intervention.

source: Costa, C., et al. (2026). Gut and oral microbiota composition is associated with psychopathic personality: a cross-sectional study. Translational Psychiatry.

08/10/2026

INSULA: The Hidden Brain Region That Helps You Feel What’s Happening Inside Your Body

You can feel your heartbeat.
You can feel nausea.
You can feel pain, discomfort, and even disgust.
But how does your brain know what’s happening inside your body?
Meet the insula — a hidden region deep within the brain that helps process internal body signals and contributes to awareness of sensations and emotions.
Your brain is constantly listening to your body—even when you’re not consciously thinking about it.
Follow Human Scope for more fascinating human biology and anatomy. 🧠

🎒 Back to School: Your Mindset Matters! ✏️As students head back to school, we often see some common concerns in our prac...
08/10/2026

🎒 Back to School: Your Mindset Matters! ✏️

As students head back to school, we often see some common concerns in our practice—feeling overwhelmed by the workload ahead, worrying about keeping up, or simply feeling stressed about getting back into the school routine.

One thing we often work on is recognizing that the way we think about a situation can have a big impact on how we feel about it. If you’re already telling yourself, “This year is going to be overwhelming. I’m not ready. There’s too much to do,” going back to school may start to feel even more stressful.

Try a reframe:

Instead of ➡️ “I’m not ready for this.”
Try ➡️ “I don’t have to have everything figured out on the first day.”

Instead of ➡️ “This year is going to be so stressful.”
Try ➡️ “There may be stressful days, but I can handle them one at a time.”

And instead of focusing on everything you haven’t done yet, take a moment to notice what you have done. Maybe you’ve gotten your supplies, looked over your schedule, picked out your first-day outfit, or simply started preparing yourself to get back into a routine. Those things count!

📝 Feeling unprepared? Make a checklist.
Write down what you actually need to do before school starts, check off what you’ve already accomplished, and tackle what’s left one step at a time. Getting everything out of your head and onto paper can make it feel much more manageable.

Most importantly, remember: You made it through last school year. You handled difficult days, learned new things, adapted along the way, and kept going. You can do it again. 💛

Here’s to starting the new school year by giving yourself a little more credit for what you can handle.

08/10/2026

🧠 The Prefrontal Cortex: Your Brain’s Decision-Making Center

Your prefrontal cortex helps you make decisions, stay focused, plan ahead, solve problems, and control impulses. 🧠
It’s one of the brain regions heavily involved in the choices you make every day—from staying focused on a goal to resisting an impulse.
Small region. Huge influence on behavior.





Address

1820 Glynwood Drive Suite B
Prattville, AL
36066

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+13343582455

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