Zetilda Ellis – Registered Clinical Social Worker, Edmonton
(Therapist / Clinical Social Work Practice) #13784
About Zetilda Ellis MSW, PDE, BSc, RCSW, Master's Level Registered Social Worker
- CBT for Insomnia (Dr. Jacobs)
- EMDR trained therapist
I am a warm and compassionate Registered Clinical Social Worker and Therapist with over 10 years of experience supporting people through a wide range of mental health and life challenges. My areas of experience include anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, pain, sleep difficulties, and racial and intergenerational trauma.
I believe therapy is a collaborative process. My goal is to create a safe, welcoming, and supportive space where you can feel heard and understood. Together, we can explore your experiences, develop practical coping strategies, and work toward greater wellbeing and improved day to day functioning.
I hold a Master of Social Work from the University of Calgary, a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. I am trained in EMDR and draw from a range of evidence based approaches, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Play Therapy, and Supportive Counselling. I tailor my approach to each person, recognizing that there is no single approach that works for everyone.
My professional experience includes working as a Special Needs Guidance Counsellor and Mental Health Therapist across schools, clinics, hospitals, provincial mental health programs, employee assistance programs, and private practice. These experiences have given me the opportunity to support people at many different stages of life and through a variety of challenges.
Above all, I strive to provide care that is compassionate, respectful, and individualized. My hope is to help you better understand yourself and your experiences, build on your strengths, and feel more confident moving toward meaningful and lasting change.
Areas You May Be Struggling With
Like the seasons, our lives naturally move through periods of change. Sometimes, however, we find ourselves in a season that feels heavier or more difficult than we expected.
You may be experiencing anxiety that leaves you feeling fearful, overwhelmed, or hesitant to do things that once brought you pleasure or a sense of accomplishment. You may be recovering from an injury or living with ongoing pain that has changed the way you move through daily life. Perhaps trauma or PTSD continues to affect how you think, feel, or respond to certain situations. You may also be struggling with sleep, feeling emotionally exhausted, or carrying the impact of racial or intergenerational trauma.
Whatever you are experiencing, you do not have to navigate it alone. I offer a warm, compassionate, and supportive space where we can explore what is happening, better understand your experiences, and develop practical strategies that fit your life. Together, we can work toward helping you feel more grounded, confident, and connected to the life you want to live.
Who Do I Help? Am I the Right
Therapist for You?
There are many therapists to choose from, so finding someone who feels like the right fit can sometimes feel overwhelming. I believe feeling comfortable, understood, and respected is an important part of therapy. My goal is to create a space where you can be yourself, feel heard, and work toward meaningful change without feeling rushed or judged.
Together, we will identify goals that are meaningful to you and look for practical ways to recognize progress along the way. Therapy can move at a pace that feels manageable, while still keeping sight of the changes you hope to make.
You may be feeling emotionally drained and struggling with anxiety, low mood, trauma, PTSD, pain, sleep difficulties, or ongoing stress. Perhaps you are managing everything on the outside while privately feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, or disconnected from the things you once enjoyed.
You may be recovering from a personal injury or motor vehicle accident and finding that the effects have reached beyond the physical. Pain and injury can affect your mood, confidence, relationships, work, and everyday life. You may also be trying to understand why certain experiences continue to affect you, or why you feel more anxious, guarded, or emotionally reactive than you would like.
You may also be carrying the effects of racial or intergenerational trauma and wanting to reconnect with who you are and what matters to you. Our experiences, family histories, and cultural influences can shape how we see ourselves and the world around us. Therapy can provide an opportunity to explore these experiences with compassion and develop a deeper understanding of yourself.
Every person moves through therapy differently. Some people want to move quickly toward specific goals, while others need more time to feel comfortable and build trust. I can adjust the pace and focus of our sessions based on what you need. Your needs in the moment will be respected while we continue working toward your broader goals.
I draw from approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Supportive Counselling, Play Therapy, and EMDR. Together, we can explore what approach feels most appropriate for you and your goals.
If you are looking for someone who is patient, warm, thoughtful, and willing to meet you where you are, we may be a good fit.
My motto is simple: “I am passionate about seeing people thrive and succeed in their everyday lives.” This belief continues to guide my work and the way I support the people I work with.
A note about professional designation: I am a Registered Clinical Social Worker and Therapist. If you plan to submit therapy invoices through extended health benefits, insurance coverage, or workplace benefits, I recommend confirming that your plan includes coverage for Registered Clinical Social Workers, also known as RCSWs, before booking an appointment.
We May Not Be a Good Fit If:
- You are not ready to engage in therapy or are attending primarily because someone else has encouraged you to do so. Therapy tends to be most helpful when you feel ready to participate and work collaboratively toward change.
- Your current needs would be better supported in a hospital or more intensive treatment setting, such as when symptoms of psychosis or other significant concerns require a higher level of care.
- You are seeking court mandated treatment or specialized assessment services that fall outside the scope of my practice.
- You are looking for support with concerns outside my areas of focus. My work primarily focuses on anxiety, depression, trauma, PTSD, pain, sleep difficulties, and racial or intergenerational trauma.
I offer both in person and virtual appointments, allowing you to choose the format that feels most comfortable and accessible for you.
Most importantly, if we are not the right fit, it does not mean that therapy is not right for you. Finding the right therapist can take time. Our team can help you explore other options and connect you with someone whose approach, experience, and areas of practice may be a better match for what you are looking for.
Who Am I as a Person?
Someone who values warmth, connection, and taking the time to truly understand the person sitting across from me. I am naturally thoughtful and reflective, and I believe there is value in slowing down enough to notice what may be happening beneath the surface.
I tend to bring a calm and grounded presence to my work. You will not feel rushed or pressured to move faster than you are ready for. I believe meaningful change does not always happen quickly, and sometimes having the space to pause, reflect, and feel genuinely understood is an important part of healing.
Throughout my career, I have had the opportunity to support people from many different backgrounds and through a wide range of life experiences. I appreciate that each person brings their own story, values, culture, family experiences, and strengths into therapy. I do not believe there is one right way to heal or one approach that works for everyone.
Most importantly, I try to bring patience, curiosity, and compassion into my work. I want you to feel that you have a therapist who genuinely cares, listens without judgment, and is willing to walk alongside you as you work toward the changes that matter to you.
How Do I Help? My Therapy Style and What You Can Expect
My approach is grounded in strength based, trauma informed, and client centred care. I recognize that you bring your own experiences, strengths, values, culture, and circumstances to therapy, and I believe these are important in understanding what you need and what may be most helpful.
Rather than taking a one size fits all approach, I work collaboratively with you to understand what you are experiencing and find strategies that feel practical, meaningful, and realistic for your life. When appropriate, we can also incorporate your faith, cultural healing practices, personal values, and coping strategies into your therapy.
My goal is to help you feel heard and understood while also developing practical tools that support healing, confidence, and positive change.
I bring a warm, grounded, and thoughtful presence to my work. I take the time to listen carefully and reflect before responding. You will not feel rushed or pressured to keep up with the pace of the conversation. If you need more time to process something, we can slow things down. If you are ready to move forward, we can do that too.
I am intentional about the questions I ask and the strategies I introduce. Rather than trying to address everything at once, we can focus on what feels most important right now while keeping your broader goals in mind.
Most importantly, I want therapy to feel like a space where you can be yourself, ask questions, reflect openly, and work through difficult experiences without feeling judged. My hope is that you leave each session feeling a little more understood, grounded, and equipped to navigate whatever comes next.
What You Might Notice After
Working With Me
I will support you in learning how to manage anxiety, difficult emotions, trauma responses, and the challenges that may be affecting your everyday life. Together, we can explore what may be keeping you feeling stuck and develop practical strategies that fit your needs, experiences, and pace.
If you have been carrying the effects of trauma, pain, sleep difficulties, or experiences that have shaped how you see yourself and the world, therapy can offer a safe space to slow down, reflect, and begin making sense of what you have been through. My calm and grounded approach allows you to take the time you need without feeling rushed or pressured to have everything figured out.
Over time, my hope is that you feel more grounded, confident, and better able to navigate difficult moments without feeling overwhelmed by them. We can work together to help you recognize your strengths, better understand your emotional responses, and feel more confident making choices that support the life you want.
Most importantly, you do not have to navigate these challenges alone. Therapy is a collaborative process, and I will walk alongside you as you work toward meaningful change, while respecting your experiences, values, culture, and personal pace.
Areas of Interest & Specialty
Client Focus
BIPOC | Cdn Armed Forces CAF | Caregivers | First Responders | Immigrants | Refugees | RCMP | Individual Adults | Individual Teens (16+ yrs) | Families | First Nations | Inuit | Metis | Veterans VAC | WCB
Service Language(s):
- English
- Jamaican dailect / patois
Areas of Specialty
Anxiety | Caregiver Support | CBT | CBTi for Insomnia | Chronic Pain | Depression | EMDR | Grief | Individual Relationship Counselling (not Couples) |MVA Injury | OCD | Personal Injury | Return to Work | Trauma |EFT| Self-esteem
Types of Therapy Approaches
That I Offer
How Services Can Be Accessed
Clients can access services privately or through the following plans:
- Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)
- Extended Health Care Plan (Blue Cross, Canada Life, Sun Life,
- Manulife, Greenshield, and others)
- Indian Residential School Program (IRS RHSP)
- Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB)
- Veteran Affairs Canada (VAC)
- Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB)
Training & Qualifications
I am a Registered Clinical Social Worker, RCSW, and Therapist with a Master of Social Work, MSW, from the University of Calgary, a Bachelor of Science, BSc, in Psychology, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, PDE.
I am trained in EMDR and draw from evidence based approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, CBT, Solution Focused Therapy, Play Therapy, and Supportive Counselling. I believe therapy should be individualized, so I adapt my approach to your needs, goals, experiences, and circumstances rather than relying on a single method.
My professional experience includes working as a Special Needs Guidance Counsellor and Mental Health Therapist across schools, clinics, hospitals, provincial mental health programs, employee assistance programs, and private practice.
These experiences have given me the opportunity to support people through a wide range of emotional, psychological, and life challenges. They have also shaped my approach to therapy, which is warm, thoughtful, practical, and compassionate. My goal is to help you feel understood while developing strategies that support meaningful and lasting change.