Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elizabeth Cappelletti. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Elizabeth, appreciate you joining us today. Can you share a story with us from back when you were an intern or apprentice? Maybe it’s a story that illustrates an important lesson you learned or maybe it’s a just a story that makes you laugh (or cry)?
My first internship made me sick! Well, it actually brought a deeper issue to the surface as the immense stress and pressure from doing this work as well as my belief that it was my job to ‘fix’ everyone’s problems took me down big time.
The truth is I was struggling with body image and a poor relationship with food and eating for a long time before this but losing 20 lbs in 2 weeks and having my hair start to fall out because of malnutrition was a very big wake up call! While it was a bit disheartening having to quit my job and check myself into an intensive program for eating disorders (after just graduating with a MASTERS DEGREE IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY) -it was truly one of the biggest blessings of my life!
This journey taught me- first that it is not my job to ‘fix’ anyone. And that goes out to all you healers as well. That’s a lot of pressure to put upon ourselves. We are guides, we are conduits and we are support. What the client does with all the many hours between our sessions has a huge amount to do with the ‘fixing’ and healing that happens. Second, I need to get better and truly heal if I am going to help anyone else! The stuff we hear -and carry- as therapists is very heavy stuff and we need to make sure we are in a grounded enough place to handle all that. I learned a lot of HEALTHY coping mechanisms in my program. Third, I had been numbing out from my feelings and had become disconnected from my body, mind and soul. Healing was holistic and I had to reconnect with ‘me’ again. Turns out what most of my clients have to do too and I also learned that the struggles I faced with Mr. ED (Eating Disorder) where so very similar to the challenges our clients face with addiction, self harm and other damaging behaviors. I had a much better understanding of it all and coming from an ‘insider’ perspective my ability to help others on their healing journey grew immensely.
I could probably have this list of things I learned number to over a hundred. But I just want to say breakdown leads to break through and I’m living proof of it. You have to be ready and willing to change and sometimes it’s in our darkest moments that this happens.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m a licensed marriage and family therapist specializing in integrative and holistic medicine for mental health. I initially set out to be a therapist because my family life was so chaotic I wanted to teach people what ‘not to do’ with their kids. The study of psychology and how the mind works fascinated me as I began to have a greater understanding of myself and why I was the way I was. It also helped me to understand others from a different perspective- which was very fitting because I have always been very attuned and empathetic to other’s emotions and needs.
I took a break between my undergraduate and graduate studies and attended massage therapy school- a move that entirely freaked my parents out because they somehow assumed I’d be working in a place with a red glowing ‘open’ sign. Thanks for the faith in me mom and dad! 😂
I worked in chiropractic offices, a day spa and eventually had my own private practice. This work was an integral part of my journey because I learned so much about the mind-body connection- before it was even a thing to talk about! I could literally tell how my clients week was the moment I put my hands on them. I could feel it in their muscles and tissues.
This work as a massage therapist profoundly impacted the work I do today because we hold trauma in our body- not just our mind. Our head is connected to our body so what affects one affects the other. I continued to pursue trainings that dove deeper into this fact and the results for myself and my clients have been profound.
I love working with people of various ages. The ADHD of my brain loves diversity but I rather enjoy working with teens and young to middle aged adults. During those transitional stages that I myself struggled with so much. I found I have a niche and knack for working with people struggling with anxiety and the many many ways it manifests itself. Addictions, OCD, perfectionism, low self-confidence and self-esteem. These things are all areas I’m super passionate about. I have attended training after training and have earned so many certificates I don’t have enough wall space! Each program seems to say that their training is ‘the one’ but what I’ve found works best is a sprinkle of this and a dash of that. So the work I do integrates many modalities and at the core is about getting to the root cause of the issue and learning to heal from there.
I think what most sets me apart is my speciality in integrative and holistic medicine for mental health but also my authenticity, empathy, passion and love for the work I do. What you see is what you get with me and I know I offer a very safe and non-judgmental environment for the clients I work with. I real and can add a bit of fun and humor to the setting as well.
I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve overcome so much and I’m growing more and more everyday being bold and courageous to step outside of my comfort zone so I can be a light for others in the world. I’ve branched out and started doing social media and getting out in the public to teach and offer guidance for healing. I look forward to more of that.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
I absolutely would choose the same profession but I’d tell myself to go for the doctorate. It seems like sooooo long when you are there but the extra 2 years is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Not having hasn’t heals me back but I think people with a ‘Dr.’ in front of there name just ‘seem’ to have more credibility. Maybe a little ego involved there too.
I love what I do and I am know this is where I’m supposed to be. That will grow and evolve I’m certain but that path I’ve gone down is one I’m proud of and have immense passion for.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Just keep learning and growing. The day you say ‘I know it all’ is the day you really need to keep growing. I truly feel if we aren’t moving forward we are sliding backwards. As clinicians we are required to take continuing education units. Don’t just do the minimum. Explore what sounds interesting and exciting. The more tools you have the better clinician you become and the more healing you experience. It will help you grow and it will help your clients heal.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.OvercomewithElizabeth.com
- Instagram: @overcomewithelizabeth
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.cappelletti.79?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-cappelletti-92810816?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@elizabethcappellettimalmft4474?si=LZdMCU0LaTifWnOg
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@overcomewithelizabeth?_t=8jt2GSetFqF&_r=1