Meet Dr. Gottstein
Ellie Gottstein, PsyD
Licensed Psychologist
Practicing in Virginia and North Carolina.
Here's what you probably want to know before deciding if I'm the right fit: I'm direct, I don't do therapy that wanders indefinitely without a point, and I truly care whether things change for you, not just whether you feel heard for 45 minutes a week.
Except, I do care that you feel heard, and I'm also warm. I like to infuse humor into our work because I am asking you to grow and change, which is really hard, so we might as well add some laughs along the way. I genuinely like the people I work with and feel honored to hold people’s most vulnerable moments. If you're someone who would rather skip the soft music, inspirational quotes, endless confirming nods, and just get to work, we're probably going to get along well. I’ll support you, but I won’t let you hide behind comfort or fear; expect to be encouraged with the occasional tough nudge when you need it.
The background behind the approach
I grew up competing in figure skating and dance, which tends to get a raised eyebrow when I mention it to the athletes I work with. Fair reaction. But spending your childhood in a freezing rink before being whisked off to dance for multiple hours every day, and your adolescence spent traveling for competitions, turns out to be a pretty formative experience. I consider it a solid introduction to athletic identity, performance pressure, and what it actually feels like when your confidence falls apart at the exact wrong moment. I didn't need to read about it in grad school first. It has been part of who I am for most of my life.
That experience is woven into how I practice, especially with athletes and high achievers. I know what it's like to care deeply about an outcome and still not show up the way you trained for. I know what it costs to keep pushing when the mental side isn't cooperating. And I know that telling someone to "just relax" is genuinely unhelpful, which is why I don't do that. However, don’t think that we won’t work to find ways for you to actually relax; we will absolutely figure out how to achieve your nuanced version of balance.
How I work
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and interpersonal process work. Not because they were handed to me or because they're trendy, but because the research on them is compelling and they actually produce results with the clients I see.
CBT helps you identify and change the thinking patterns that fuel anxiety, perfectionism, and depression, and then alter your behaviors in response. ACT helps you build a life oriented around what genuinely matters to you, rather than organizing your days around managing whatever is uncomfortable. Interpersonal process work examines how the patterns you've developed over time show up in your relationships and sense of self.
In practice, sessions are focused. You'll leave with something concrete you can use before the next one, not just things to sit with until we talk again. We work through the process in session, and between sessions is where you get to practice the skills.
Who I work with
My clients are mostly adults, adolescents, and college students. A lot of them are high-achievers: driven, capable people who are usually excellent at solving problems but have run into something that can't be optimized or pushed through on willpower alone. Others are competitive athletes who have put serious work into the physical side and are finally ready to take the mental side just as seriously. Some are people who have been quietly carrying something for a while and decided they want their life to feel more full.
What they tend to have in common is that they want to make actual progress, not just talk about making progress. That works well with how I practice.
Dr. Ellie Gottstein at a Glance
Or the TR;DL
Credential: PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Licensed in: Virginia and North Carolina
Modality: Telehealth only
Specialties: Anxiety, depression, stress management, sport psychology, perfectionism, men's issues, health psychology
Populations: Adults, adolescents, college students, athletes, high-achievers
Therapeutic approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing, Interpersonal Process Therapy
Session fee: $200 per 45-minute session
Free consultation: 15 minutes, no commitment. Schedule at drelliegottstein.clientsecure.me
Accepting new clients: Yes
“Life comes in waves. It is important to have the skills and resources to take each wave as it comes knowing that you can handle however big the wave becomes.”
Focus on psychological strength and wellness.
Step 1 —
Understand your “why”
Step 2 —
Create actionable goals
Step 3 —
Collaboratively work toward goal achievement
Step 4 —
Arrive at original goals and push for continued life-long growth
