Carol Ellinger

Meet Carol

Supporting individuals, teens, and families through trauma, neurodiversity, adoption, and complex family dynamics in Fredericksburg and across Virginia.

I’m Carol Ellinger, LCSW, and I am a trauma-informed therapist with over twenty years of experience supporting individuals, teens, and families as they navigate emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges. My work is grounded in helping clients build insight, strengthen resilience, and feel genuinely supported as they move toward healing and growth. I strive to create a warm, approachable space where you can safely share your experiences and begin connecting with your own strengths and inner resources.

I have a particular passion for supporting neurodiverse individuals, families experiencing high conflict or co-parenting challenges, and clients working through the complexities of adoption, foster care, or kinship care.
Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, stuck in difficult patterns, or seeking guidance for your child or family system, I’m here to walk alongside you with steadiness, compassion, and clarity.

who i help

I work with:

• Individuals and teens with high-functioning autism or neurodiversity

• Parents navigating behavioral challenges at home or in the classroom

• Separated or divorced parents needing co-parenting support

• Families experiencing high conflict and court-involved communication issues

• Adoption, foster, and kinship care families

• Clients healing from trauma or stressful life transitions

• Teens and adults struggling with emotion regulation or eating-related concerns

• Those who benefit from DBT-informed skills, structure, and support

No matter your family structure or personal history, my goal is to help you feel supported, understood, and equipped to create meaningful change.

background & approach

I earned my Master’s in Clinical Social Work from the University of South Carolina in 2002 and became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in 2005. Since then, I have lived and practiced in the Northern Virginia area, providing clinical therapy, supervision for LCSW candidates, and mentorship to MSW students from George Mason University.

My professional training includes:

• Certified Parenting Coordinator, trained through the Cooperative Parenting Institute in Georgia

• Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP)

• Certified CASE (Center for Adoption Support and Education) Therapist

• DBT training for emotion regulation and distress tolerance

• Specialized training in supporting clients with eating disorders and disordered eating patterns

My therapeutic approach is systemic, strengths-based, and trauma-informed. I view each client within the context of their environment—because family dynamics, school settings, stressors, and relationships all shape how challenges develop and how healing happens. I work collaboratively, helping clients and families identify patterns, understand behaviors, and build on their existing strengths to create lasting change.

Above all, I want clients to feel safe, respected, and empowered throughout their therapeutic journey.

Connect with me

I provide telehealth services to clients across Virginia. Whether you’re seeking support for yourself, your teen, or your family, I would be honored to help you navigate this season with guidance, stability, and care.

If you’re ready to begin or want to learn more about how I work, I invite you to reach out. I look forward to connecting with you.