​ Mary Ellen Lemieux, JD, LCSW

I grew up in the Midwest. "Bars" and jello and canned bean salad are in my DNA. I still enjoy occasional Football Saturdays in the Big House, although admittedly, we are all waiting for our return to glory.

Despite living in the Bay Area for many years, and now splitting my time in Colorado, I remain close to my Midwestern values of integrity, hard work and the importance of Sunday dinners.

As a family therapist, I enjoy working with families who have teens and young adults transitioning out of wilderness therapy or residential treatment, and are returning back home. I also work with families who are struggling to keep their teens or families safe due to acting out, school refusal, crippling anxiety, depression or pandemic blasé. If your current strategies aren't working, I am happy to share my professional and personal experience with you, and am willing to collaborate with other professionals on your team.

Much of my work with families is focused on helping parents set limits with their children, and more importantly, hold those limits when things get a little complicated, or when the honeymoon of being together ends.

As an individual therapist, I enjoy working with adults, particularly mothers, who are overwhelmed, at their wit's end, or simply need to process their week. I also enjoy working with young adults who are experiencing anxiety, depression, relationship issues or have a history of abuse or trauma.

My past experience includes working with elementary and middle school students, low-income single mothers, as well as with highly resourced families experiencing divorce, separation, substance abuse, mental health crises, financial stress or co-parenting conflict.

I've been married for over 35 years, and have three mostly-grown children - 25 is the new 18. Over the years, I've attended more than my share of soccer games, piano recitals, IEP's and court appearances. My kids also have attended private and public school, and I can speak to the benefits of each.

About Me

As an LC​SW, with a faith-based background, I am trained to consider the entire family system and environmental factors when working with clients.

In other words, Maybe it isn't you. Maybe it is them.

As an objective empathetic listener and advocate, I work with my clients to untangle the confusing and conflicting messages coloring their view of themselves and their sense of well-being.

Education:

--The University of Michigan, A.B., English Language and Literature, 1983

--The University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D., 1990

--San Francisco State University,

M.S.W., 2012

Licenses:

--California L.C.S.W. #773557

--Colorado C.S.W. #099266365

--Utah L.C.S.W. #11557310-3501

--California State Bar #148610