Elena Gorrow

Your Therapist Who Am I HI! My name is Elena Gorrow. I am excited that you are here and hope that we will be able to work together. I enjoy working with young people and their families; adults experiencing day-to-day life with changing families, changing careers, and making life plans; and parents who are striving to do what is best for their children despite the challenges they face in their relationship with other key adults in the child's life. ​ I graduated with my Bachelors in Social Work from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. I then moved to California and pursued my Masters of Social Work at the University of California, Sacramento. I spent many years working for a non-profit agency working with children and adolescents in the foster care system and their families. During this time I have experienced working with children and their families strengthen their relationship so they can return home, assisted youth in dealing with anger, anxiety, depression, loss, rejection, mental health diagnosis, substance use, sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. I worked for several years focusing on youth who were victims of sexual exploitation. Many of these youth struggled in school, peer relationships, relationships of authority, family relationships, and their relationship with themselves. My passion is to work with children and families to strengthen their relationship so their childhood can be an experience that they look back on through their life with joy. ​ I have also worked with adults transitioning into new life stages such as establishing careers, finding love, creating a family, and all the challenges that come along with these types of life changes. It is important to keep dreaming and working towards your goals in life. ​ They say, "It takes a village" to raise a child. That can become more challenging when the relationship that helped create your family is strained. The adults *which may now include significant others of the other parent) need to develop a plan to communicate effective, appropriately, and ensure that the child or children involved are able to love and accept love from the adults that are safe for them. This may be some of the most important work I do to help create environments and new adult relationships that help the parents and the child learn to adjust to their new family dynamics. ​ When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family. I also enjoy exploring family genealogy, playing games with the family, watching movies or television, and traveling to explore new places.