Therapists in Florence, MA

I work with individuals to strengthen their sense of choice and meaning in their lives. I believe we can emerge more whole when we get curious about the parts of us that seem inglorious. I do not believe in oversimplifying the human condition into "good" or "bad" because there is more truth in the spectrum. I want therapy to be accessible, helpful and grounded in the reality that we live our day-to-day lives outside the therapy office. Good therapy extends beyond one hour a week; good therapy informs how we relate to, engage with and move through the real world.

We are living in unprecedented times filled with great challenge and incredible opportunity for growth. Global and personal events can leave us feeling isolated, disconnected, anxious and depressed. We search for meaning and purpose amidst the overwhelm of loss, transition, disease and chronic pain. Yet, this chaos can be the grit that moves us toward greater awareness and freedom. Support, connection, compassion and skilled guidance can help us forge new pathways in our lives, our brains and our bodies. We then have more capacity to reclaim our inherent joy, creativity and the power to build a positive light-filled future.

I live and come to psychology with a consciousness of interpersonal, structural and institutional oppression that many of us experience throughout our lives. You will find compassion and understanding at the cross-sections of your suffering and your identities. Whether it is anxiety, depression, social/community difficulties, I can help explore these elements so that you can harness hope, presence, and restoration.

Thank you for checking out my profile. I am excited to meet with you and get to know what brings you to therapy at this time. I have been practicing therapy for many years and it is a role that I love. When I work with people I invite curiosity and self-compassion in order to help individuals to strengthen their experience of well-being, as they grow through both challenges and discoveries. My approach is to support individuals as they deepen their sense of personal meaning and purpose, collaborating on problem-solving, life-transitions and development of an increased sense of connection .

In life we all need hope, validation, just to know that today, "this too shall pass." I strive to connect with individuals with honesty, warmth, and empathy. When one makes that decision to seek emotional guidance, I understand the vulnerability and the bravery of that moment. While allowing one to take the time they need to reach their desires of the heart and/or identify what one desires through a space of compassion and mindfulness.

As a humanistic therapist, I believe that healing is both a universal capacity and a profoundly personal process. My goal is to help you discover and expand your unique healing process, and to release the blocks that prevent you from realizing your potential. I have ten years’ experience in the mental health field, supporting clients in coping with depression, anxiety, grief, relationship challenges, difficulties with trust and self-esteem, life transitions, trauma, and a myriad of other challenges.

I ‘ve worked with people trying to reignite their creativity, those seeking relief from panic attacks, depression or the impact of past trauma on present experience. those working with challenges in relationships & families, dealing with racial trauma or identity or navigating institutions & workplaces. My ideal client is someone who wants to feel seen and heard, who is curious & wants to suffer less, more fully enjoy their life & relationships and be empowered to make their unique contribution to the world. I particularly welcome BIPOC clients, mixed race as I am, the neuro-diverse, & those who seek to do good for others.

As a person with lived experiences from within and outside the United States, I know the joys, sorrows and pleasures of living with, and beyond, preconceived notions of who you “should” be. You will find me to be a warm, caring and highly skilled companion on your journey in expressing your human fears, concerns, and hopes.

Most of my clients are interested in what their inner world is trying to tell them through dreams, emotions, physical symptoms, etc. Anxiety, depression, anger, compulsion, illness, PTSD, etc. are the body/mind's way of guiding us as to how we need to grow. My clients want to discover, heal, and come to terms with their inner truth. My training and personal experience with verbal and nonverbal/somatic processes enable us to access the dynamic flow between the conscious mind and the unconscious. As clients learn to dialogue with the unconscious they discover their own truth. I am grateful to the unconscious for this guidance.

The best way to support healing and transformation is to combine a mind-body approach with psychotherapy. I include expressive therapies, relaxation training and mind-body awareness in my practice. This is suited to clients of all ages with anxieties, stress, blocked emotions and body image problems. I also offer dance movement therapy separately for therapy, training and presentations.

Welcome to my site. I hope I can answer your questions so that you can make the best decision for choosing a therapist. Do you get in your own way that keeps you from living more fully & effectively? Do you struggle with trauma; relationship difficulties; feeling overwhelmed, ashamed, insecure, angry; transitions, loss, unresolved grief? Do you find yourself reacting to or doing things that you know are not healthy or helpful for you, your relationships or work? Does your past limit or complicate your present? Do you have challenging experiences as an immigrant or person of color you want help with?

RVCC is a multi-service community-based mental health agency serving the Pioneer Valley since 1953. RVCC offers counseling and medication management at offices located in offices located in Holyoke, Chicopee, Easthampton, Springfield, and Westfield. RVCC also provides counseling in schools throughout Hampden and Hampshire Counties and on the campuses of Springfield Technical Community College and Bay Path University.

If I have learned one thing over the years working with children and families, is that healing only happens through connection, through a trusting relationship. Therefore, my main goal when working with folks is to establish a relationship where one feels safe, held, listened to, and valued. I once heard that our work is to walk through a dark and scary forest with people, and not to teach them, coach them, to do it on their own. So no matter how dark and scary your forest is right now, my job is to walk through it with you, and support you every step of the way. I am also a native Portuguese speaker, and speak Spanish as well.

I am a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, bilingual in Spanish and English, who believes in a "whole person, whole health”, strength-based, treatment approach. I believe that our Mental/Emotional/Behavioral health Matters. Combined, they are fundamental to our ability as humans to think, emote, interact with each other and optimize our life quality and satisfaction . As such, my team and I work collaboratively with each client to provide culturally sensitive, evidenced based services, using creative and inspiring interventions catering to a diverse groups of all ages; human service professionals, first responders and teachers

Psychotherapy is a doorway into new insights & perspectives that can be life changing. We learn how to get beyond our reactions, often shaped by our painful life experiences & create new ways of being in our lives. Therapy can help us see more possibilities & break free from the stuck & painful dilemmas that weigh us down. My practice is informed by spiritual and clinical perspectives. We all want to feel more love, more belonging & more wholeness. We do that by using what comes our way to grow wiser & experience more peace & balance. I work to help people release fear while developing more trust in their own unshakable center.

My name is Elizabeth Bristow and I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with over twenty-five years of experience providing psychotherapy for adults and adolescents. I see individuals, couples and families in my private practice. My office is centrally located, I have day and evening hours and I accept most insurances.

My ideal clients are adult individuals who are looking for support to identify and sort out the challenges that they are experiencing. Depression, anxiety and emotional dysregulation are some of the issues that I can help address. My approach is eclectic and always strength based. It is an honor to collaborate with individuals as they gain insight and understanding along with the tools they need to move through their current life challenges.

I offer gentle, attuned, non-judgmental care for adults and adolescents impacted by anxiety, depression, trauma, loss, emotional reactivity, self-criticism, relational difficulties and addictive habits. My steady intention is to create a trustworthy, collaborative relationship that honors your truth and your natural capacity to heal. With an attitude of curiosity and kindness, we can open to a deeper understanding of your needs and vulnerabilities, the conditions causing challenges in your life, and a wise way forward that builds on your strengths and addresses obstacles that may be blocking your capacity to fully engage in life.

Emotions are complex entities, fed by our experiences, beliefs, and relationships they can be both difficult to express and understand. For individuals who feel overwhelmed by their emotions compounded by the every-day stressors that life can bring, therapy provides a pathway to enhanced wellbeing. Tackling the misconceptions and stigmas that therapy is a privilege for a select few, my goal is to help put the power of self-awareness into the hands of all individuals through a mental health plan of action with a modern nuance that feels relevant to the realities of today.