Liz Rourke
LCMHC
Associate Clinical Director
SELF-ACCEPTANCE ROLE MODEL
We live in a world that is constantly promoting how to fix what is wrong with us and encourages comparing ourselves to others. I am very much a believer that we can all find happiness when we embrace all aspects of ourselves. Being human means, you are going to make mistakes, do something embarrassing, be worse at something than someone else… so since that is all inevitable, I vote we do not allow ourselves to be judgmental when it happens or create standards for ourselves based off of what someone else thinks. I will encourage you to stop ‘should-ing all over yourself’ and allow yourself to just be you, because you are enough.
HONORED TRANSITION GUIDE
Transitions in life are inevitable, but can also be incredibly challenging. Whether experiencing going off to college, gender identity exploration, getting married, new motherhood, divorce, or any other life transitions, I will be honored to be there by your side while you discover who you will be through this transition and after. Regardless of if you label the transition as positive or negative, chances are, there will be unexpected emotions that come with it. For a new mom, this might be anxiety and depression that occur post partum instead of the complete joy you were expecting. For some transitions, the complex mixture of excitement and absolute terror at the same time can be quite confusing. With help, you will feel better.
OUTSIDE THE BOX TOOL BUILDER
Now, I do not know about you, but when I was a growing up no one sat down and taught me how to healthily manage the stressors of life with specific skills. In fact, I believe the words ‘Life is tough get a helmet’ were uttered on many occasions. Better believe I had the coolest helmet in the neighborhood but I struggled to see how it helped me when things were tough. Even if you did grow up being taught healthy coping skills they might not be the right skills for you or maybe they just are not working anymore. There are many different theoretical frameworks that therapists use nowadays, I prefer to dance my way through a variety of them since they each have different things to offer. If you work with me you will hear me talk about relaxation and self-care techniques, distress tolerance skills, radical acceptance and looking at life’s challenges through different lenses. I want every client I work with to be able to walk away from our sessions with their own unique “box of tools” they can use to help lessen distress and meet personal goals.
ABOUT ME
I received my Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Rivier University in Nashua, NH in 2014. I have more than 10 years of experience working with those with eating disorders within multiple levels of care including inpatient, residential and intensive outpatient settings.
I also have experience and expertise in treating depression, anxiety, and OCD. More recently I’ve developed a clinical interest in treating perinatal and postpartum mood disorders. I have completed the certificate training through Postpartum Support International (PSI), comprehensive advanced training for providers who work with women coping with perinatal and postpartum issues.
My clients often tell me that they feel comfortable with me right away which is my main goal. Perceived or accurate, a lot of people are walking around feeling judged so my goal is to create a safe place to be able to say anything and not feel that way. I prefer to meet my clients where they are and partner with them in finding their way through their struggles. I have also facilitated many groups on topics such as stress management, body image, self-care, and DBT (Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotional Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness). My goal is to be as genuine and authentic as possible because I believe that by doing so I can help others brave to do the same.
In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband, and two rescue dogs, Bucky and Boomer, both of whom have received the AKC’s Canine Good Citizen Awards!
“Be who you are and say how you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind” –Dr.Seuss
