Elijah Palles, LCSW

Hello! I am excited to help you on your journey.

I’m Elijah — therapist, LGBTQ+ advocate, music festival wanderer, and firm believer that you deserve to take up space exactly as you are. My work is kink-informed, trauma-informed, LGBTQ+ affirming, and sex-positive — which is just a fancy way of saying I welcome the parts of you that other spaces might shy away from.

I work primarily with adults and couples, helping people navigate relationships, self-discovery, and the hard stuff life throws at us. I have extensive experience with active-duty military, veterans, and first responders, as well as the neurodivergent community, HIV-positive clients, and members of the kink community. Whoever you are and whatever you’re bringing in, you don’t have to filter yourself here.

I believe in resilience and in your ability to make it through the toughest situations. I believe every person already carries the skills needed to change, grow, and step into the most authentic version of themselves. My role is to hold space for your trauma so you can take the time you need to navigate through it — without pressure, without judgment, and always at your own pace.

At the heart of our work is EMDR, which provides the foundation for healing and growth. I complement this with tools from Cognitive Processing Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Mindfulness, all within a holistic mind-body-spirit approach. Sometimes sessions are deep and transformative; other times, they’re full of laughter and unexpected “aha” moments. Either way, we move forward together.

Outside of therapy, I’m on the board of Transcending Adolescence, perform on stage, and feed my love of all things beautifully macabre. I’m happiest exploring nature, losing myself in a concert crowd, or sharing ridiculous, joyful moments with my partner.

If you’re looking for a therapist who can hold space for both your pain and your joy — without flinching and without judgment — I’m here.

I work with individuals aged 16 and up.

Individual Advanced Training

• EMDR Therapy Basic Training – The Center for Excellence in EMDR Therapy  (In process)
• Integrating EMDR into your clinical Practice – Two Part by Roy Kieslling, LISW and Robbie Adler-Tapia, PhD
• Mindfulness, Healing and Transformation: The Pain and the Promise of Befriending the Full – Jon Kabat­Zinn, Ph.D.
• Cultivating Hope in Treatment of Eating Disorders –  Nicole Siegfried, PhD, CEDS
• An Introduction to EMDR and Related Approaches in Psychotherapy – Jamie Marich, PhD
• Integrating Mindfulness into Clinical Practice – Jamie Marich, PhD
• Fundamentals of Trauma Processing
• HIV/AIDS: Update for Behavioral Health Professionals – Alice Yick Flanagan, PhD, MSW
• Mental Health Issues Common to Veterans and Their Families by Alice Yick Flanagan, PhD, MSW
• Addressing Substance Use Disorders and Behavioral Addictions with EMDR Therapy
• Emotionally Focused Therapy with Sue Johnson, Ed.D.