ellen

Ellen Livengood, LCSW, earned her Master’s degree in Social Work in 2014. During her final year of graduate training, she completed her clinical internship at Eastern State Hospital, an experience that profoundly shaped her professional development. Following graduation, Ellen accepted a full-time position at Eastern State Hospital, where she transitioned from Mental Health Associate to Clinical Social Worker. From January 2013 through October 2019, she gained extensive experience in comprehensive clinical assessment, individual and group psychotherapy, clinical observation, and complex case management, describing her time there as an incredible and formative chapter in her career.

In February 2017, Ellen obtained her clinical social work license. The following year, she joined the University of Kentucky Behavioral Health Intake Department while continuing her work at Eastern State Hospital part-time. In this role, she and her team were instrumental in implementing a new behavioral health program, working extensively with the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale to assess and respond to individuals presenting with acute risk.

After developing a strong interest in outpatient psychotherapy, Ellen transitioned fully into outpatient work, where exposure to psychodynamic consultation and participation in her own long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy deepened her commitment to insight-oriented treatment. This path ultimately led her to open her private practice, Your Guide to Livengood, LLC, in 2021.

Ellen’s clinical work is grounded in psychodynamic and psychoanalytic principles, with a strong emphasis on understanding unconscious processes, relational patterns, and the emotional meaning of symptoms. She is deeply committed to ongoing professional development and completed the Advanced Psychotherapy Program at the Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute in May 2025. She plans to begin formal psychoanalytic training at CPI in the fall of 2026.

In addition to her clinical practice, Ellen is actively involved in professional leadership and education. She serves as Co-Chair of the Membership Committee and as a Board Member of the Kentucky Society for Clinical Social Work, and she participates on several committees. She also serves on the Board of the Lexington Psychoanalytic Study Group.

Ellen is licensed to practice in Kentucky and New York.  Ellen is an approved LCSW supervisor in the state of Kentucky and offers clinical supervision and consultation, with a particular emphasis on psychodynamic and insight-oriented practice.