Are you struggling with anxiety or chronic illness/pain? Has it become difficult to cope with your emotions and manage daily tasks effectively? Is it a struggle to feel understood or develop a sense of connection with those in your life? I am able to understand and challenge clients in a unique manner because I am a provider living with a physical disability and other chronic medical conditions. My personal experiences and training aid me in assisting clients to learn and utilize adaptive coping strategies, develop a sense of acceptance for what is out of their control, and foster a more balanced perspective. My therapeutic approach also incorporates humor, direct, yet mindful feedback, respectful confrontation, and providing a space where clients can develop insight into the self and their life, along with facilitating an exploration of past experiences to determine if they are connected to current presenting problems. As a bilingual provider, it is also imperative that there be consideration of how a client’s culture might be impacting their overall experience. I value and honor individuality and therefore, adapt to ensure the needs of every client are met. My name is Liz and I am a LMFT with eight years of experience within the mental health field. I have provided services within community mental health and private practice settings. Throughout my time in the field, I have worked with adolescents, adults, and couples. Supporting them through various concerns including anxiety, depression, grief, low self-esteem, and various forms of trauma. I value transparency, quality of care, and continuous growth. My hope is to aid my clients in developing healthier relationships, and increased self-esteem and authenticity.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

In our first session, we will review intake paperwork, complete brief introductions and review what has brought you into therapy. A priority will be gaining a better understanding of your experience through curiosity. I have found that focusing on exploring and validating a clients experience can assist in establishing a sense of safety and trust for clients.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

Having worked with those with both chronic illness and trauma, I am able to assist you in 1. learn and utilize adaptive coping strategies 2. Develop a sense of acceptance for what is out of their control 3. Foster a more balanced perspective 4. Understand and work through unhelpful patterns that stem from past experiences.

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

I love and can best serve clients that have chronic illness and trauma (developmental). This is connected to both my personal and professional experiences. A majority of my work with clients is processing past traumatic experiences via a trauma narrative.

About Liz Gallo