Liz La Torella, LMFT
Licensed Therapist | Certified Crystal Healer
About Me
Traveling and learning have been my lifelong pursuits. I am fascinated by the psyche and what makes people tick. We live in a world so rich and vast that the opportunities to explore and connect are endless. By stepping into other cultures, I have realized how similar we all are in our fundamental need for connection. Connection to others, to values and to ourselves.
In all facets of my work, I am continually amazed by the resiliency and potential that all individuals have to heal and make meaningful change in their lives. Having immersed myself in other cultures, I see myself as a bridge, helping people see through their differences to create understanding and connection. This is paramount to my work with couples and families.
Through lifelong study of psychology and the healing arts, I enjoy helping people find their center and their truth. From there, they can find confidence and fulfillment in their life choices. I value and appreciate the opportunity to help facilitate the process of change with clients. Much of my life has been dedicated to working with people of all ages and backgrounds toward a common goal. Growth!
For over 20 years I have worked as an educator, a therapist and a crystal healer. I believe that wellness is our birthright, and we are worthy of living a life that is fulfilling, in whatever way we define that for ourselves.
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I work from a unique skill set that encompasses ​traditional therapeutic techniques as well as metaphysical styles of healing. As a professionally trained mental health clinician, I utilize evidence-based techniques that are of an analytical and methodical nature. As a certified crystal healer, I employ techniques that are intuitive and holistic in nature. Most importantly, all of my work is client-centered and tailored to each clients unique goals and means of achieving growth.
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Degrees and Certificates:
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Université de Franch-Comté- Centre de Linguistique Appliquée
Besançon, France
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Crystal Academy of Advanced Healing Arts
Kapa’a, Hawaii
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Lewis & Clark College
Graduate School of Counseling and Psychology
Portland, Oregon
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College of Social Work Nirmala Niketan
Mumbai, India
Services
Individual Therapy
Family Therapy
Postpartum
I work with individuals of all ages. In one-on-one sessions, we will explore the challenges that have brought you to therapy and develop goals that fit for you. I work largely from a mindfulness approach; however my work is also influenced by elements of cognitive behavioral therapy, brief solution-focused therapy and narrative therapy. Using mindfulness-based therapy brings you into the present moment where you have the most control and ability to influence your experience. It helps raise awareness of yourself, your environment and how you respond to your environment through your thoughts and feelings. Using mindfulness techniques can help us to explore ways to bring peace into each moment and remember to live life on purpose!
For over a decade, I have been practicing family therapy from a family systems theory framework. I welcome new, divorced, blended and foster families, as well as those experiencing major life transitions. In my practice I value an unbiased & non-judgmental attitude, healthy communication and shared responsibility among family members for the identified problems being faced. Much of my work in family therapy has been focused on a child with identified mental health illness, disruptive behavior, instability and/or lagging skills. I approach such clients through a systemic lens of involving as many natural supports as possible while coordinating with the other systems in the child's life (when needed) to improve functioning across environments and in all areas of life. I also offer parenting support and coaching to help bolster your skills to meet your child's specific needs.
Having gone through the experience of becoming a mother, I understand the transition into parenthood. This can be a very special, yet confusing, time of life where feeling supported is more important than ever. In my practice, I work with parents on how to navigate that transition into caring for yourselves while simultaneously caring for a new little human. It is not uncommon for new parent(s) to experience postpartum depression, anxiety and/or trauma around birth, and I am here to validate and normalize those feelings, while offering supportive ways to integrate your experiences and find relief in the day-to-day struggles. Parenting is one of the hardest undertakings in life, but can also be the most rewarding aspect of life. My experience tells me that the best thing we can give our children is a commitment to our own mental health!
Crystal Healing
Crystal healing is an advanced healing art technique that focuses on the process of attunement which can help one access their own subtle levels of consciousness. It is here that the self can perceive its own unique truth. Naturally occurring crystals are specimens of beauty and color that reflect light. When used with the healing intention of attunement, that light may illuminate your inner knowing. The structure of crystals is believed to have a strong resonance with the body's electro-magnetic field. When used properly, they can clear and attune your energy centers, otherwise known as chakras. Crystal healing sessions begin with a guided form of breath work that calms and regulates the nervous system. Crystals are then placed on each chakra point of the body. From there, a person is able to access information that they may not otherwise have access to when the mind and body are out of alignment. This work invokes a sense of clarity and promotes feelings of peace and calm.
Trauma
I have spent many years assessing and treating trauma in clients of all ages. In sessions, I will work with clients to explore how past or current trauma is affecting their mental, emotional and physical states. From there, we will develop ways to tend to those parts of yourself that are asking to be healed and work toward creating a sense of felt safety. This looks different for every person, and I am careful to maintain an awareness that each person's traumatic experiences have a unique effects on them. Trauma-informed care is at the cornerstone of my practice. I have spent the last several years in the non-profit sector working on a trauma-informed care committee. As a member of this committee, I worked to raise awareness amongst mental health providers and other professionals about the social responsibility we share to treat trauma with compassion and understanding. My goal is that you will feel heard and accepted for all that you are, and that our therapy sessions will follow a pace that meets your needs.
Depression & Anxiety
We live in times that are increasingly more challenging to navigate, and rates of depression and anxiety are arguably higher than ever. It can be isolating and overwhelming to manage such intense emotions on our own. I don't believe that we are meant to go at it alone. I approach depression and anxiety with the intention of developing a practice to help you find peace in difficult moments and learn how to improve your overall functioning. I can help you develop a new language for your experience that leads to a sense of empowerment and feelings of ease. Together, we can explore ways to improve your self-care and build skills to cope with symptoms related to anxiety and depression.