Elena joined Between Friends in 2024, bringing over 20 years of experience in counseling and violence prevention. She holds a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is ABD in her doctoral studies. Elena has held leadership roles in social services, including as Program Director at Metropolitan Family Services’ Midway Center, overseeing programs in domestic violence counseling, court advocacy, and Safe Exchange services. At the Illinois Center for Violence Prevention, she developed evidence-based initiatives for child abuse and teen dating violence prevention. Earlier, she implemented community violence prevention programs at the Cook County Department of Public Health. A sought-after speaker and educator, Elena specializes in trauma-informed, strength-based approaches to mental health and domestic violence.