About

“Often, it’s not about becoming a new person, but becoming the person you were meant to be, and already are, but don’t know how to be.”

― Heath L. Buckmaster, Box of Hair: A Fairy Tale

One of our challenges as humans is to overcome how we think and talk about ourselves.  When we face problems in our lives, our step is typically to judge it and criticize ourselves for having the struggle in the first place.

Do you hear yourself saying…

I am bad at that..

I am trying to figure that out…

I have got to get over that…

It’s stupid I feel this way.. 

I believe when we embrace with curiosity, rather than deny,  criticize or scold unwanted parts of our lives and our selves, we are able to observe what we do like about ourselves, what is already working for us, and what needs no changing  or improving at all. 

Along with making changes, I will help you give attention to expanding what’s already there and positive for you.

Is this You?

Welcome to Six Willows Counseling Services

A space and time for you to stop judging yourself start finding peace within yourself and your relationships. Space and time to start feeling in your life…

  • You can say what you need to say without feeling judged or criticized.

  • You belong.

  • You feel safe emotionally.

  • You are heard. Others care what you think.

  • You are good at something and have skills.

  • You are being treated fairly.
  • Others trust you. You trust others
  • Your opinions matter.
  • You have a sense of control and independence in your life.
  • You are comfortable with being accountable for your actions.

Hi! I’m Ellyn Zografi.

I am a  licensed Marriage and Family therapist passionate about helping you take the steps necessary for healing and enacting the changes you desire. I help you approach current life challenges with compassion and curiosity, rather than judgment and criticism, so you can reach desired change and healing within yourself and with others. 

MY STORY

Kind words from clients

“Ellyn is caring and insightful with an uncanny sense for knowing when to nudge in a direction which invariably leads to a breakthrough.” 

Her professionalism, wisdom and warmth are a wonderful combination and a treasure in my life. Whenever an advice columnist suggests someone should seek counseling, my overwhelming inner response is always, “Find Ellyn!”  

Current Client

My Approach 

I work with clients via video conferencing and telephone. 

Together we can shed that top layer of judgement and help you get to a place of self acceptance and compassion. Thus, having the space to be able to ask yourself “Where am I now?” “How do I feel and what do I need to feel better and make the changes I want to make?”

Get Started

Some History 

My passion for counseling started while working with adults with developmental disabilities.  I recognized in my work an emphasis on “fixing” unwanted behavior with tactics, incentives and award programs and less thought to what could be behind, at the root of, and surrounding the behavior. 

I found having curiosity about unwanted behaviors to be a crucial missed step toward desired change and reaching optimal outcomes.  As I expanded my work to counseling individuals, couples and families as a licensed marriage and family therapist, I found this to be true for all people!  We can’t fix ourselves with just will-power and a promise of reward!

“We need understanding, compassion and acceptance of what is and why, in order to lead us to what could be.”

Upon moving to Utah in 2017, I was fortunate to work as a Wilderness Therapist and come to know therapy out of doors as a wise and powerful tool for helping clients reach their goals and potential. To this day, I incorporate into my practice this understanding how nature can be a teacher, a healer, and a model for humans. When we witness and observe how the natural world navigates adversity, unexpected change and growth without apology and shame, we, too, can practice for ourselves a similar process..

How it started

“Often, it’s not about becoming a new person, but becoming the person you were meant to be, and already are, but don’t know how to be.”

― Heath L. Buckmaster, Box of Hair: A Fairy Tale

My Story

Having grown up, spent most of my adult life and raised my now grown children in Madison, Wisconsin, I became very familiar and comfortable with big town, small city living and all that the wonderful midwest brings to a sense of being and identity. Just when I thought I was where I was going to be, personal circumstances brought me to create a home in a place I previously knew nothing about: Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Wasatch Mountain range, east of Salt Lake City, UT.

In finding myself in unfamiliar territory, I began questioning my purpose and my sense of belonging – in other words I lost my comfort zone. I felt like who I understood myself to be had been pulled like a rug from underneath me, leaving me feeling awkward, unsure and strained in my interactions with others. It was easy to go instantly to a place of feeling like I didn’t belong in my new surroundings.

Amongst much stumbling, physically and emotionally, I learned that any sense of belonging and purpose was going to have to start and end with me. I needed to pay attention to who I was, rather than who I wasn’t, what I could do, rather than what I couldn’t do… yet…and stop comparing – and start listening to – myself.

A widened focus on what I had to offer… as well as receive, I was able to name what I believe humans need in order to work with challenges and navigate and/or create change: Self-compassion for, curiosity about, acceptance for and open-ness to what’s inside and surrounds us.

Ready to learn more about you?

Let’s Talk >>

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