Elizabeth Skaff, LISW

Elizabeth Skaff is a licensed independent social worker (LISW) practicing in Ohio with 24 years of experience. She works primarily with young adults and adults on stress, anxiety, mood concerns, relationship difficulties, and life transitions. Elizabeth aims to give people a space to talk and be heard without judgment.

After earning a master’s degree in social work from Case Western Reserve University in 1999, she began her clinical work on an inpatient psychiatric unit. That early work focused on children and adolescents and involved collaboration with families and schools. Within two years she achieved her independent license and moved into independent practice.

Over more than two decades in independent practice she broadened the types of concerns she addresses. Common topics include transitioning to adulthood, family stress, self-control and decision-making struggles, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and addictions. Additional areas she often helps people talk through are blended family issues, commitment and control problems, jealousy, and coping with separation or divorce.

Her style adapts to each person. She often uses elements of cognitive behavioral approaches to look at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. Solution-focused ideas are used to build hope and practical next steps. Emotionally-focused and client-centered methods inform how she listens and responds in sessions.

Elizabeth emphasizes a supportive, validating setting where clients feel understood. She recognizes starting therapy can feel hard and aims to help people prioritize their needs and find clearer ways forward.

How her approaches translate to online work

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters to the person in front of her. In practice this means time to talk through worries, to feel heard, and to shape goals together. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at connections between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and uses short exercises and experiments to try different ways of responding to problems.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. Elizabeth will collaborate with each person to decide which methods feel useful and adjust as goals change. She aims to match techniques to what the client wants to achieve and the practical steps they can take between sessions.

Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, such as arranging appointments around work, school, or parenting. It also allows for shorter check-ins or more frequent brief sessions where that helps progress. Confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are available and how they fit your schedule.