I’m Liz Serens, a licensed professional counselor with over a decade of experience helping individuals navigate life’s challenges. My passion is guiding people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or uncertain in their journey toward emotional well-being. I specialize in working with individuals facing anxiety, depression, trauma, ADHD, mood disorders, PTSD, and relationship difficulties. My approach is collaborative, compassionate, and rooted in creating a safe, nonjudgmental space where healing and growth can flourish.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
In our first session together, we’ll begin with brief introductions to help you feel comfortable. Then, we’ll discuss any concerns or challenges you’re facing, so I can gain a better understanding of your needs. We’ll also review important topics like confidentiality, client rights, and the limits of therapy to ensure transparency. From there, we’ll explore your treatment plan, setting goals that align with what you hope to achieve. This will provide a strong foundation for our future work together as we navigate your journey toward growth and healing.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Beyond my professional expertise, my personal journey has given me firsthand insight into resilience, self-advocacy, and adapting to life’s complexities. Growing up with a family member who struggled with substance use, a father who is blind and retired from medicine, and navigating my own learning disabilities, I understand the unique challenges that disabilities present. I also know that coping strategies are not one-size-fits-all—each person’s path to healing is deeply personal, and I tailor my support accordingly. I have also raised a transgender child who later transitioned back to cisgender, providing me with insight into identity, self-exploration, and family dynamics. In addition, I have firsthand experience with single parenting, dating as a single parent, divorce, and building a blended family. These experiences have shaped my understanding of the emotional and relational struggles many people face, allowing me to support my clients in processing their challenges with empathy and practical guidance.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I love working with young adults as they transition into adulthood, learning to embrace new responsibilities while facing the real-world challenges that come with independence. This period of life brings many obstacles, from navigating identity shifts to developing confidence in decision-making and relationships. I help clients explore their sense of self, strengthen resilience, and build a foundation for success. I also work with individuals navigating midlife struggles, such as career transitions, shifting priorities, and identity exploration. Many of my clients struggle to reconcile their past choices with their future goals while maintaining their core values and beliefs. Whether they are questioning their purpose, seeking personal fulfillment, or facing emotional setbacks, I help them develop strategies to move forward with confidence and clarity. Additionally, I have extensive experience working with individuals facing self-worth challenges, whether those struggles stem from substance use, major life transitions, or personal obstacles. My clients are eager to improve, yet they often lack the tools to make that goal a reality. I help them uncover their strengths, set attainable goals, and develop meaningful coping strategies.
About Liz Serens
Liz Serens offers therapy covered by Kaiser Permanente - Medicaid and UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicaid in Virginia.
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Person-centered (Rogerian)
My name is Liz, and I have 14 years of experience in the mental health field. Over the past year, I have been practicing as a licensed professional counselor. I take an integrative approach to therapy, with a strong emphasis on the evidence-based method of Person-Centered Therapy. This approach allows me to tailor the experience to meet each client’s unique needs while fostering a safe, empathetic, and nonjudgmental environment for healing and growth.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
In my practice, I believe it is essential to utilize the evidence-based approach of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). This method supports clients in learning to accept the challenging aspects of themselves, their environment, and the adverse experiences they’ve faced. By embracing these unwelcome parts, individuals can begin to challenge themselves, build confidence, and find a sense of safety. My goal is to help clients cultivate self-empowerment and develop a strong foundation that allows them to embrace discomfort, leading to lasting personal growth.
Humanistic
As a professional counselor, my priority is to create a warm, safe, and empathetic space for clients navigating life’s challenges. I believe it’s crucial to provide therapy through a holistic and humanistic lens, ensuring a strong therapeutic connection and collaborative client-therapist partnership. This approach allows me to truly understand each individual’s unique needs, fostering a supportive dynamic where meaningful growth and healing can take place.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
In my practice, I have extensive experience utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a core treatment method. Over the years, I have seen how effective CBT can be in helping clients gain insight into the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. By working together to identify and challenge negative or unhelpful thinking patterns, clients learn how these thoughts influence their feelings and actions, often contributing to distress. I use CBT techniques in various ways, tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. For instance, we may begin by exploring common cognitive distortions—such as black-and-white thinking, catastrophizing, or overgeneralization—that often contribute to emotional discomfort. Through guided exercises and collaborative discussion, clients learn to reframe these thoughts into more balanced and realistic perspectives. I also incorporate practical CBT tools like thought records, behavioral activities, and cognitive modification skills. These techniques help clients practice new skills outside of sessions, reinforcing healthier ways of thinking and responding to challenging situations. By integrating CBT, I aim to empower clients with the tools they need to effectively manage their thoughts and emotions, leading to improved emotional well-being and a greater sense of control in their lives.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
Throughout my years of practice, I have found Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to be a highly versatile and effective therapeutic method, especially because it is adaptable and culturally sensitive. My experience with DBT has shown that its structured framework and focus on practical skills can be beneficial for a wide range of clients, particularly those struggling with intense emotions, relationship difficulties, or self-destructive behaviors. In my practice, I use DBT to help clients develop skills in four key areas: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. By integrating these core components, clients learn to become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, tolerate distress without resorting to harmful behaviors, regulate intense emotions, and navigate interpersonal challenges more effectively. I tailor DBT techniques to fit each client’s unique cultural background and personal experiences, ensuring that the strategies we use are relevant and respectful of their individual values. For example, mindfulness practices can be adapted to align with a client’s cultural or spiritual beliefs, making the approach more meaningful and accessible. By incorporating DBT in a culturally sensitive manner, I aim to create an inclusive therapeutic environment where clients feel understood, supported, and empowered to make positive changes in their lives.