Elena Zagarskas, Psy. D.
Dr. Zagarskas provides therapy and formal assessment for children and adults ages 5 and up. Areas of assessment include intellectual and learning abilities, memory, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), major mood disorders, and personality functioning. She is experienced in treating mood disorders (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder), grief/loss, trauma, eating disorders among adults, personality dysfunction, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder.
Elena’s treatment approach is integrative with a foundation in existential psychology and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). She also frequently uses skills and approaches from dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), motivational interviewing (MI), and psychodynamic theory. A deep value for social justice underlies her focus in which individual differences are explored and appreciated. Elena also welcomes the use of creative arts in sessions for those interested.
Dr. Zagarskas earned her bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College in Ohio, her master’s degree from Gannon University in Erie, PA, and her doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology from Carlow University in Pittsburgh, PA. She has worked in a variety of mental health settings since 2007.
Personal Quote
"Challenges to maintaining wellness come at various ages and times in our lives. These challenges can become opportunities to discover more of our authentic selves, develop greater resilience, and create more balance. The process of this growth itself is unique and incredibly meaningful for each of us." - Elena Zagarskas, Psy. D.
Contact
Position:
Counseling Psychologist
Address:
8224 Mentor Ave, Suite 208
Mentor Ohio 44060
Email:
ezagarskas@behavioralwellnessgroup.com
Phone:
440-392-2222 EXT 409
Fax:
440-565-2349
Testimonials/Reviews
Testimonial Disclosure Statement: Testimonials herein are unsolicited, anonymous and are received after care has been received in an attempt to assure healthy therapy relationships and confidentiality.
"Dr. Zagarskas was amazing! Aftercare Program was much needed….Follow up with patients and the level of care you provide… giving patients practical skills to use to help with mental health issues."
Dr. Glovan, Health and Wellness IOP; Dr. Zagarskas, Individual Therapist; Katie Petrochic, Adult Aftercare Program) "I miss everyone in IOP! I believe you have given me so much opportunity to grow and learn! Thank You so much for all that you have done for me! Aftercare is going well after the first visit. My 1:1 sessions with Dr. Elena (Zagarskas) are also going really well! Setting my world up the way I want it to feedback to me is an ongoing effort! But yes, I am determined to continue to grow and learn with whatever life throws at me! I believe you have an amazing program/practice with an incredible team! Keep being true to you! I love what you are, what you stand for, and what you potentially do into the future! I promise I won’t be a stranger!"
"Hi Dr. G, I hope you are doing well! I do miss you and The Health and Wellness Intensive Outpatient Program! I continue to apply all of your teachings as I move through life! Dr. Elena Zagarskas has been a blessing to me as well. She definitely points out my blind spots, which I’m so grateful for. I’m also wishing and sending the rest of your amazing team my utmost respect...They all have touched my life in a way that is priceless."
Articles
Pressing the Pause Button: Managing Distress with Mindfulness
In the hustle and bustle of modern life, we often find ourselves swept away by the currents of stress and anxiety. It can feel like we’re caught in a whirlwind in these moments, reacting instinctively rather than responding thoughtfully. However, there is a simple yet effective tool at our disposal: the power of pressing the pause button. By consciously choosing to pause, we can shift from a reactive state driven by our primal instincts to a more mindful approach rooted…
Winter 2024 Seasonal Letter
Best Wishes to you and yours as we enter the New Year! The Behavioral Wellness Group remains committed to you and the care of your clients in this New Year! Thanks to your ongoing confidence in us, BWG has increased our number of therapists and services in other states (see website above for details) to meet the demands of our clientele. Our programs are CARF Re-Accredited for the maximum allowable duration which is a testament to our commitment to meeting…
Becoming More of a Positive Person In Today’s World
We often hear about how we need to engage in physical exercise in order to be healthy. There are many options for physical exercise. We can do aerobic exercise to increase breathing and heart rate; there are anaerobic options which strengthen muscles; flexibility exercises stretch muscles and help keep us limber; balance exercises are very important to prevent falls, especially as we age. All of these activities strengthen and reprogram specific parts of the brain. However, how often do we…
Stress and Anxiety Management the DBT Way
Anxiety and stress appear to be the next pandemic. I see so many people who are anxious, overwhelmed, edgy, panicky, full of worry, and always tense. If any of these words describe you and leave you with a constant feeling of uneasiness to all-out panic, you could be suffering from poor stress management. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, or DBT was developed by Marsha Linehan in the 1970s. She had her own experiences with mental illness that perhaps gave her a unique…
Coping with Grief during the Holiday Season
“What am I going to do if something reminds me of Grandpa?” “Who is going to help me decorate the Christmas tree this year?” “I don’t have the energy or the desire to do the things I usually do during the holidays.” If you are someone who has lost a loved one, these may be some of the thoughts that are running through your mind. Although the holidays are usually associated with happiness, joy, smiles and laughter for most individuals,…
When Seasonal Changes Affect Your Moods
Seasonal Affective Disorder How does one distinguish between winter blues and more serious conditions? Many feel sluggish or down during Fall and Winter months. The winter blues are pretty common. If this sadness is profound, it may be a sign of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD is a form of depression which results from decreased light during the darker Fall and Winter months. With decreased sunlight, our internal biological clocks are thrown off, and it feels as though everything is…