Elaine Hughes

Collaborative, skilled guidance for emotional resilience

LICSW, LCSW New Jersey

Experience: 19 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy
Languages: English

About Elaine

Elaine Hughes is a licensed social worker with nearly two decades of clinical experience who works with people coping with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, and life transitions.

Background and approach

She holds LICSW and LCSW credentials and maintains professional registration in Vermont and New Hampshire as noted by VT LICSW 089.0134482 and NH LCSW 5115. Her practice emphasizes collaborative care that honors each person's knowledge of their own story while offering structure and skill-building drawn from evidence-informed approaches.

Her style blends practical interventions and emotional exploration, helping clients develop coping strategies and make sense of painful experiences. Elaine draws on methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, attachment-informed work, DBT skills, emotion-focused techniques, and mindfulness practices to tailor sessions to individual needs.

She encourages taking the first step toward help and supports clients as they build on existing strengths to manage current challenges and pursue meaningful change.

Therapeutic approaches and online care that fit your life

Elaine uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop practical skills for reducing anxiety and managing depression. CBT focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors to produce relief from distressing symptoms and to support everyday coping.

She also integrates Attachment-Based concepts to explore how early relationship experiences shape current emotions and relationship patterns, which can be useful for people working through grief, abandonment, or recurring interpersonal difficulties. When emotions run high, elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy are used to teach regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness skills that support stability and clearer decision-making.

Finding the right mix of approaches is a collaborative process. Elaine works with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques from these therapies to create a tailored plan that feels manageable and relevant.

Online therapy with Elaine is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options can make it easier to maintain continuity of care, practice new skills between sessions, and access support from familiar surroundings.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Elaine commonly address in therapy?

She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, and coping with life changes, along with related issues such as abandonment, attachment concerns, chronic illness, caregiving stress, and family or relationship challenges.

What is Elaine's general therapeutic approach and style?

Her style is collaborative and strengths-based, combining practical skill-building with emotional exploration and using approaches like CBT, attachment-informed work, DBT, EFT, and mindfulness depending on client needs.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Elaine brings 19 years of professional experience to her practice and has worked with a range of concerns related to mood, trauma, loss, and life transitions.

What are her credentials and where is she located?

She holds LICSW and LCSW credentials and is registered as VT LICSW 089.0134482 and NH LCSW 5115. Her practice is based in New Jersey.

Does Elaine provide services in languages other than English or accept international clients?

Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats does she offer for therapy?

Elaine provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging as options for remote work to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time, and pricing depends on those factors.

What should I do to begin working with her?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Depression Coping with life changes

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEating and food-related issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivity Isolation / lonelinessVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Sexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

19+ years

Licensed

New Jersey, Vermont, New Hampshire

Languages

English