About me
My name is Bob McElwee, and I have been a clinical therapist for more than 25 years. I am a retired clergyman, and I currently work as a teacher and chaplain at a boys boarding school in Southeast Kansas. My wife and I have raised seven children, and we currently have 15 grandchildren. I have earned master’s degrees in literature, theology, and clinical psychology. Additionally, I also have an associate degree as a motorcycle repair and maintenance technician. In addition to riding and repairing Harley Davidson motorcycles, I enjoy gardening, carpentry, scuba diving, long distance bicycle riding, model trains, exercise, travel, and reading.
As a clergyman I have considerable experience in marriage preparation, couples counseling, divorce adjustment, and grief and bereavement therapy. As a clinical therapist most of my work has been with individual mood disorders (e.g. anxiety and depression). I am a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT). As such I have worked mostly with people in stressed relationships that have produced individual disfunctions and flawed coping strategies.
My theoretical basis for most of my therapeutic interventions is most accurately described as “Cognitive-Behavioral.” Even so I take “Script Theory” seriously and find it a useful tool in helping people to re-conceptualize and organize their personality structure and characteristics. In this regard I am currently investigating “Narrative Therapy” and its theoretic techniques.
At base I am an optimistic person who believes that people have the ability to recover from past negative experiences if given proper tools, techniques, and encouragement. I enjoy assisting people as they create a productive, responsible, principled, and creative life that they can be proud of, and enjoy.
Specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Depression
Addictions , Trauma and abuse , Intimacy-related issues , Eating disorders , Self esteem , Bipolar disorder , Coping with life changes , ADHD , Attachment Issues , Avoidant Personality , Blended Family Issues , Dependent Personality , Read more...
Clinical approaches:
Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy
Services offered
Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video
Licensing
KS LCMFT LCMFT 069
Reviews
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Robert McElwee. We don’t pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Robert is very attentive and responsive even outside the therapy session. During the session, he asks useful and thought-provoking questions which effectively allow me to reflect on my current situation. He is also always supportive to me and always makes me feel much better after the session. Outside the sessions, he responds with helpful/empathetic feedback to all the journals I shared with him.
Mr. McElwee maintained interest and asked questions. He responded to me typically within 24 hrs. He was professional and courteous with every engagement we had.
Robert is an amazing person to work with. I'm glad he was there on my journey of self recovery. He was there to listen and give guidance. One a way i can describe is that he was on of the things that was holding that candle in that dark tunnel for me when I was in one of my lowest. A truly helpful and Wiseman. Not only did he help me with my mental health he helped me with other everyday experience that people go through. He is a good person.
Only have had one session but I know he can help me get to a better place and I look forward to this journey
This has been a great experience for me. Robert has been kind, helpful, full of great advice and humorous. I have grown a lot and look forward to our weekly video calls. I can’t recommend him enough.
Robert was awesome in helping me work through a difficult situation. He was not afraid to push me outside of my comfort zone and make me think outside the box. He helped me find tangible ways for me to improve my situation.
Mr. McElwee is really empathetic and supportive. There is nothing I feel that I couldn’t tell him.
I highly recommend him.
Robert has been nothing short of an amazing therapist. He has helped me grow into a more confident person, and has helped me realize what truly matters to me and also what my true value is. Robert is very honest and has sometimes told me some harsh truths (that in all honesty I should've heard a long time ago). Anyone would be lucky to have Robert as their therapist.
Very nice and open minded individual! Also has a nice sense of humor!
I truly appreciate his no nonsense style of therapy. It is sorely lacking in the field of therapy. He doesn't try and make you feel warm and fuzzy. He tries to fix your problem no matter who or what is causing it. He will tell you the reality of the situation so you can get better asap. I could not recommend him more especially for young men who are struggling with depression and a sense of purposelessness or feeling lost. As I said before though he doesn't sugarcoat so I wouldn't recommend him you just wanted to vent about things not proactively solve in the real world. There are plenty of other therapists who are great for that objective
I'm very thankful for his help during a very hard time on my life.
Robert is awesome. He's definitely seasoned veteran. If you tried to hide your problems, he will know. So be ready for your changes with Robert because something good will come to you :)
supper nice and very supporting
Great therapist
Easy to talk to. Understanding and caring.