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Elisabeth A. Bridgewater

MSW, LICSW

When you speak with me, you will quickly realize I am not originally from the Pacific Northwest! I hail from the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I arrived in Seattle in 2013 after beginning my clinical career in social work in 2009. 


My career has spanned the continuum of the field of social work.  I started, like many new social workers, in direct practice in a community mental health setting.  Over the years I found I liked the macro systems work and moved into varied parts of administration.  I never went far from the clinical realm as I believe the macro work in a system directly affects client care.


My work has provided me an opportunity to grow and strengthen my diagnostic and clinical skills with individuals, groups and families. My administrative work has given me the opportunity to understand and connect the varied parts that make up the mental health field.  I have partnered with coding professionals, workflow experts, and other clinical professionals that have provided me with a knowledge base that has and does directly impact client care.


I did not take the traditional route to a college education as some do. I started my college education at  the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. I earned my BA in Psychology and Women’s Studies in 2007 at 33 years old and I earned my Master in Social Work at 35 years old, both degrees with honors

As you begin to think about your needs for a supervisor, consultant or therapist, here is more information that speaks to specific populations I have worked with in my career.

I am comfortable working with adult (20 years old - older adults) clients across the diagnostic spectrum. My clinical career started in the community mental health setting for six years. In that time I was able to serve those with co-occurring disorders (substance use disorders and mental health disorders), individuals with comorbid disorders (medical - sometimes complex diagnosis and mental health disorders), individuals at varying levels of acuity and crisis, and individuals needing support and guidance as they seek a partner to assist them in changing ineffective behaviors.


Starting in 2011 through May of 2012,  I had the privilege to be intensively trained by Behavioral Tech, LLC in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy ( DBT ) This work allowed me to both create and be a part of multiple teams. This therapeutic modality is built on the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy model and is a behavioral treatment modality. That means that along with a systems lens I also view my work through the lens of DBT. Even though I don’t use the DBT modality formally, it does strongly inform and guide my practice.

I am skilled in other modalities and use depending on the need.


When I arrived in Seattle in 2013 the focus for my career was towards administrative opportunities.  I was able to work with a community organization where the focus was on substance use disorders and they were integrating mental health care. From there I moved back into direct practice and then into other areas of administration and supervision in an integrated health care system that allowed me to broaden the work I was doing in community mental health. The work also provided me with an opportunity to view an integrated health care system and really strengthen my skills as a leader and administrator. I continued to remain close to client care with a varied diagnostic presentation; however I was able to partner with my clients in a way that was less ‘rapid fire’ and allowed more of an opportunity for exploration.


When I am not working, My husband and I enjoy the outdoors in and around Seattle with our Siberian Husky Tadashi.

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