About Creekside Therapy

Liz has been practicing therapy for over 30 years.  She is a Registered Psychotherapist and a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist.  She earned a Masters degree in Couple and Family Therapy from the University of Guelph in 1996.  Liz is also a Clinical Supervisor with the Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Liz worked at the Canadian Mental Health Association (formerly Trellis) in Guelph and Wellington County for 15 years.  Her roles included Preschool Behavior Consultant, Child and Youth Therapist and Crisis Response, Supervisor of Mental Health Services for all ages, and Manager of Developmental Services, Special Needs Child Care and Child and Adolescent Services.  

In 2012 Liz transitioned to the Pine River Institute where she worked as a therapist for a team of youth for five years, and as the Director of the Family Program for three years supporting the parents of the youth in the program.

Liz has long history of training and consultation to agencies and individuals on parenting and implementing parenting supports within mental health agencies.

Liz's therapy style focuses on working with clients to develop new understanding about the issues they face.  She brings her expertise in family relations and human development to explore the specific situation that the client is facing.  Together, we find new ways of seeing things and new approaches to life dilemmas.  Healing old wounds is part of the process.

Liz applies a social justice lens to her work to ensure a consideration of how clients are situated within their community and within our society.  Liz's therapy room is a safe space for exploration of  issues of identity and how the social context impacts self-esteem.

Therapeutic modalities include Family of Origin work, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and  Dialectical Behavior Therapy.  Virginia Satir is a big influence in Liz's therapy work as is Collaborative Languages Systems. She also brings an awareness of how the human brain processes trauma.

What does that all mean in plain language?  We will try to make sense of what is going on for you right now.  This may include an exploration of how you got to be the way that you are -- the strengths and the vulnerabilities that came from how you have lived your life so far.  Acceptance and self-compassion are an important part of this process.  We will look at what you want to keep, and what you want to change, and then we will figure out some strategies for how to be intentional in implementing the desired changes in your life and in your relationships.  In the process you might learn about how to tolerate distress better, how to regulate your emotions, how to get what you want out of interactions with people, how to communicate more effectively, and more!