Elena Rodriguez, LMFT, LPCC — Teen & LGBTQ+ Therapist in Los Angeles, CA

About Elena Rodriguez

Elena Rodriguez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) based in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. She earned her Master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC) and holds both her LMFT (#LMFT100842) and LPCC licenses from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Before opening her private practice, Elena worked for several years in community mental health settings in East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley, where she developed her fluency in working with clients from under-resourced communities and learned firsthand how much access, language, and cultural resonance matter in mental health care.

Elena specializes in working with Latinx teenagers and young adults navigating anxiety, identity development, LGBTQ+ experiences, and the complex family dynamics that arise when children of immigrants carve out lives that differ from their parents' expectations. She is fully bilingual in English and Spanish and integrates both languages organically into her sessions. Her clinical toolkit draws from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for adolescents — a structured, skills-based approach particularly effective for teens managing emotional intensity — alongside Affirmative Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. Elena is deeply committed to accessible care: she accepts Medi-Cal, Medicaid, and Kaiser Permanente, and maintains a sliding-scale waitlist for those without coverage.

Parents who bring their teenagers to Elena often note how quickly their child goes from resistant to genuinely engaged. Her energy is warm, direct, and free of clinical distance — teens feel like they're talking to someone who actually gets what their world looks like. Elena's Silver Lake office is intentionally welcoming and affirming, with resources reflecting the diverse communities she serves. Telehealth is available for California residents.

Specialties & Issues Treated

Specialties

Issues Treated

Treatment Approaches

DBT for Adolescents Affirmative Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Motivational Interviewing Culturally Responsive Therapy Strengths-Based Therapy

Services Offered

Service	Session Length	Fee
Individual Therapy (Teen / Young Adult)	50 minutes	$140 / session
Parent Consultation	50 minutes	$140 / session
Medi-Cal / Medicaid	50 minutes	Covered by insurance
Sliding Scale	50 minutes	$40–$100 / session
Telehealth Sessions	All session types	Same rate as in-person

Telehealth available in English and Spanish via HIPAA-compliant secure video. California residents only.

Insurance & Fees

Accepted Insurance Plans

✓Medi-Cal

✓Medicaid

✓Kaiser Permanente

✓Sliding Scale

Accessibility Commitment: Elena believes cost should not be a barrier to mental health care for young people. She maintains a small sliding-scale caseload for clients who do not have insurance coverage, with fees adjusted between $40–$100 per session based on household income. Please ask about sliding-scale availability when you reach out — she will always try to help or refer you to a provider who can.

Office Location

Elena Rodriguez — Silver Lake Office
3401 Glendale Blvd, Suite 108
Los Angeles, CA 90039

View on Google Maps → Silver Lake · Los Angeles, CA 90039

Office Hours

Monday – Thursday	11:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Friday	9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Saturday	Closed
Sunday	Closed

Client Reviews

4.7

Based on 29 verified reviews

"Elena helped my daughter open up in ways I never thought possible. She had tried therapy before with someone who didn't speak Spanish and felt misunderstood. Having a therapist who understands our culture, our language, and our family dynamics changed everything for us."

Marisol G. Teen Counseling (Parent Review)

"As a queer teenager I was really scared to try therapy. I didn't know if a therapist would actually get it, or just tolerate it. Elena made me feel completely safe and affirmed from the very first session. She never made me feel like my identity was something to explain or justify."

Jordan V. Individual Therapy

"I started seeing Elena when my anxiety was so bad I was missing school. The DBT skills she taught me actually work in real life — not just in theory. I have a full toolkit now and my anxiety doesn't run my life anymore. Genuinely changed things for me."

Diego R. Individual Therapy

Reviews are voluntarily submitted by former clients. Names are abbreviated to protect privacy in accordance with HIPAA guidelines. MFTFinder does not verify clinical outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age range does Elena work with?

Elena primarily works with teenagers (ages 13–17) and young adults (18–26). She also provides parent consultation sessions separately — helping parents understand what their teen is working through and how to support them at home without undermining the therapeutic process. Occasionally she sees adults over 26 with strong connections to the issues she specializes in, such as bicultural identity, family dynamics, or LGBTQ+ concerns.

Does Elena work with teens who are questioning their gender or sexuality?

Yes, absolutely. Affirmative Therapy is a central part of Elena's practice. She works with teens and young adults who are questioning or coming to terms with their gender identity or sexual orientation, including those navigating family reactions, coming-out decisions, and the intersection of LGBTQ+ identity with Latinx or other cultural backgrounds. Elena's office and practice are explicitly LGBTQ+ affirming — no exceptions, no conditions.

Does she accept Medi-Cal and are there sliding scale spots available?

Yes — Elena accepts Medi-Cal and Medicaid for eligible clients, and maintains a small number of sliding-scale slots for clients without insurance. Sliding-scale fees range from $40–$100 per session based on household income and are determined in an initial phone consultation. Availability for sliding-scale spots is limited and may have a short waitlist, but Elena is committed to working with as many community members as possible.

How does Elena handle parental involvement in teen therapy?

For minor clients (under 18), Elena requires at least one parent or guardian to attend an initial consultation session before beginning individual work with the teen. After that, she typically meets with the teen individually while scheduling periodic parent check-in sessions every 6–8 weeks. Confidentiality for teens is maintained within the limits of the law — meaning parents are informed of safety concerns, but regular session content is kept private. This structure helps teens feel safe opening up while keeping parents meaningfully informed.

What is DBT and why does she use it with teens?

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is a structured, evidence-based approach that teaches practical skills in four areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. It was originally developed for adults with borderline personality disorder but has been extensively adapted for adolescents and is one of the most researched treatments for teen anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, and self-harm. Elena uses a DBT-informed approach (rather than full-program DBT) which weaves key skills into individual sessions — making it practical, accessible, and effective for the teens she works with.

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Elena Rodriguez