Busy Class of 1985 Alumna Gets Even Busier

Class of 1985 alumna Ellen Astrachan-Fletcher, PhD, FAED, CEDS-C, has made a career of helping individuals, families, and organizations cultivate resilience. Based outside of Chicago, Ellen just established two new psychology consulting businesses.

Her new EAF reCenter “is a space dedicated to fostering meaningful relationships — with ourselves and others — as we navigate life’s challenges,” as Ellen explained. “As a licensed clinical psychologist, we offer individual and family therapy, clinical supervision and consultation, and mental health training and education to support those facing anxiety, mood disorders, trauma, eating disorders, and complex family dynamics."

Ellen also recently established Wooly Arrow Consulting to "provide innovative and experienced education, coaching, and recommendations to families and organizations who seek systemic growth." This was founded through a collaboration with her brother, Joseph Astrachan, Class of 1979, who is an expert in family-run businesses. 

“Our focus is on helping create change from the inside out – and not simply from the outside in,” said Ellen about her two new practices. 

Over her 30-plus-year career, Ellen has worked in academia and the private sector with clinical and teaching experience in the fields of eating disorders and women’s mental health issues. She taught, lectured, and supervised psychiatry residents and fellows at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and University of Illinois Chicago. She was even named Teacher of the Year by the Clinical Psychology Internship and Fellowship Program at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. As a certified eating disorders specialist and co-author of two workbooks, Ellen is also a frequent presenter at national eating disorders conferences. 

Moving from teaching to management, Ellen joined Insight Behavioral Health Center where she grew to become the regional clinical director over the Midwest and East at Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight Mood and Anxiety Center. 

“After 13 years in the private sector, I grew tired of administrative responsibilities and missed working more directly with patients,” said Ellen. “That’s what motivated me to start my new clinical and consulting businesses.” 

And, what motivated Ellen to get into a career in psychology? “I grew up with a father who was a psychiatrist, and I heard him talking with patients at home,” recalled Ellen. “But I really fell in love with psychology in an AP class at Hamden Hall.”

Inspired by that AP psychology class, Ellen attended Boston University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in abnormal psychology. She took a year off before grad school to work at the National Institute of Mental Health and then earned a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University.

Ellen remains close with her family. Besides coming home for the holidays, she co-authored a chapter on “Narcissism in the Family Enterprise” with her brother, Joseph, in the book: From Stigma to Strength | Cultivating Mental Health for a Thriving Family Business. Her brother, Michael Astrachan, Class of 1983, also designed illustrations for her workbooks and even helped with her new website.

Ellen’s full life also includes time with her husband, Tony Fletcher; her three children, Noah, Sara and Sammy; and their cat and dog. She also enjoys traveling and connecting with her 1985 Hamden Hall classmates Randy Winters and Andrea Gagliardi Rowbatham.