Hello! My name is Eleri (rhymes with “celery”), and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate and clinician at Three Oaks. I work with children, teens, young adults, and parents, and I’m passionate about helping people feel understood and better equipped to navigate life’s challenges.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Florida, with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis and a minor in Disabilities, before earning my Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan. During my graduate training, I completed an internship at Michigan Medicine’s Child and Adolescent Outpatient Center, where I worked with children and adolescents with a range of diagnoses and mental health needs. My education and clinical experiences have shaped my belief that therapy should be flexible and individualized, meeting each person where they are and taking into account their unique strengths, needs, and experiences rather than expecting them to fit into a particular approach. 

My approach is practical, collaborative, and focused on helping clients truly understand what’s going on, not just talk about it. I help clients recognize the connections between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors while developing tools that actually fit into their everyday lives. I work with clients and parents around concerns including anxiety, neurodivergence, self-esteem, emotional regulation, and life transitions, whether they’re seeking support for themselves or looking for ways to better support their child.

I draw from evidence-based approaches including play therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Motivational Interviewing (MI), along with other experiential and skills-based strategies. I adapt these approaches to each client’s developmental level, personality, strengths, and goals. For kids, sessions might include games, coloring, or other hands-on activities because that’s how they naturally communicate (and because sitting still for 50 minutes usually isn’t their idea of a good time). With teens and young adults, sessions may be more conversation-based, skill-focused, or a mix of discussion and interactive strategies. And don’t worry, we can absolutely still play UNO while we talk.

I also really enjoy working with parents and caregivers, both alongside their child’s therapy and through parent-focused sessions. Parents play such a central role in their child’s life, and I love helping families develop practical strategies to support progress outside of sessions. I take a holistic approach by considering the full picture of a client, including their family, school, relationships, and broader environment.

At the heart of my work, I believe every person deserves to feel seen, heard, and respected. One of my favorite parts of being a therapist is watching clients grow in confidence, recognize their strengths, and start using new tools to navigate life on their own terms.

When I’m not working, you can usually find me playing tennis, making homemade ice cream, or getting lost in a good book. I also love trying new recipes, traveling to visit family, and finding small ways to enjoy life’s little moments.

I’m excited to get to know you! Whether you’re looking for support for yourself, your child, or your family, you don’t have to have everything figured out before reaching out. We can start wherever you are and take it from there.

eleri@threeoaksbehavioralhealth.com