Dr. Oleander “Ollie” Elessar

My Approach:

I am passionate about providing therapy and psychological assessment from a holistic point of view. I specialize in health psychology, trauma, autism, ADHD, chronic illness and working with individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. I most often find myself gravitating toward Internal Family Systems therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and psychodynamic psychotherapy.I place tremendous significance on coordinating care with all of my clients’ physicians and make a point to speak with them regularly to ensure that my clients are receiving the best care possible, which often includes providing psychoeducation to physicians outside of the mental healthcare field and advocating for my clients. 

My Story:

I grew up in Yorktown, Virginia and received my Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from Virginia Tech. When I began studying psychology, I was primarily interested in conducting research, but over time I realized that my true passion is to work therapeutically with patients in the clinical setting.

I attended the American School of Professional Psychology and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology where I received my Master’s and PsyD. Much of my training was in hospital settings where I gained a love for health psychology and working with individuals who have experienced trauma of any kind.

I have found that my lived experiences have driven the areas of psychology I focus on the most. Being queer, AuDHD, and having my own experiences with trauma and chronic illness, I have experienced firsthand a lot of the downfalls of the healthcare system. I try my hardest to help others with both similar and different lived experiences than myself navigate life through finding balanced and sustainable solutions that are holistic.

My Interests:

 My hobbies and interests are always rapidly changing and evolving, though I do typically circle back to each eventually. Currently I am learning how to play Magic the Gathering and have gotten into weight lifting.I love being outside, especially if there is running water nearby, and more often than not my pup Ada is glued to my side while we explore trails and forests. I’m always looking for ways to express myself through creating with writing, painting, music, building models, or a random craft I’ve stumbled upon at a hobby store.

Ada