Elliott Lugo , LCSW

Elliott Lugo is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Illinois and is also certified as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor. With 17 years of experience in mental health settings, he works with teens and adults facing challenges such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, substance use, parenting difficulties, relationship struggles, and the search for purpose. He helps clients identify the barriers that keep them from moving forward by exploring what matters to them, how they view themselves and others, and what they imagine could happen if they make changes.

Elliott breaks complex problems into clear, manageable language and uses evidence-informed techniques to build practical skills. He incorporates Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy alongside strengths-based and attachment-informed perspectives to tailor work to each person. He is trained to support trauma recovery and practices from a sex-positive stance when relevant to a client’s goals.

Sessions typically run 45 to 50 minutes, though he can arrange shorter meetings when preferred. Elliott generally responds to messages in the late afternoon or early evening or by the next morning, and he is not usually available for immediate responses during daytime hours when he sees clients. He is out of the office on Fridays and Saturdays and will typically reply to messages left on those days by Sunday morning. Elliott provides services in English and is not accepting new clients at this time.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Elliott commonly draws on Attachment-Based Therapy to help clients understand how early relationships shape current patterns. This approach explores connection, trust, and emotional needs to address issues like relationship strain, attachment concerns, and patterns of closeness or avoidance.

He also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and to teach concrete skills for coping with anxiety, depression, and stress. CBT focuses on practical strategies that can change day-to-day functioning. When emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness are central concerns, Elliott integrates Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques to build skills for managing strong emotions, reducing impulsive behaviors, and improving communication.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Elliott collaborates with clients to determine which methods fit their goals, preferences, and needs, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds. Licensed professionals can deliver these therapies effectively via remote formats.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to schedule sessions around work, family, and other obligations, extend access to consistent support, and allow therapy to continue even when in-person meetings are not possible.