We recently connected with Liz Seitz and have shared our conversation below.
Liz , appreciate you joining us today. Who is your hero and why? What lessons have you learned from them and how have they influenced your journey?
One of the people in my life who had the greatest impact on me was my father. I was truly fortunate to have been raised by one of my most gifted mentors. My dad was not a therapist, he was a congregational rabbi, but in addition to his preaching and teaching, he did a lot of pastoral counseling. I saw the very meaningful role he played in so many people’s lives. He was a brilliant, wise and very compassionate soul. He was there for his congregants in the best and worst of times. People turned to him in their darkest moments, when they were very troubled, in the depths of crisis or the throes of grief. He was the voice of reason and wisdom in our family. Both my parents were incredible role models but my dad’s professional life had a profound impact on what would eventually become mine. I was always a deep thinker, very sensitive, introspective, and very much an empath. I didn’t always know that I was going to be a therapist but once I became one, I understood even more, the influence that my father’s role had had on me.
People come to therapists when they are in crisis, in transition, troubled by depression or riddled with anxiety. They may be survivors of trauma or various kinds of abuse. They may be trying to heal from a chaotic childhood. They may be grieving the loss of a partner, a marriage, a child, a parent, or a friend. They may be dealing with a life threatening illness or questioning their sexual identity or gender. They may be grappling with infertility or pregnancy loss. They may be struggling to love their partner again. They may be trying to recover and heal from an affair or just trying to learn how to be better partners and lovers. They may be searching for the courage to leave a volatile relationship. They may be going through a major life transition or redefining themselves in a new stage of life. Sometimes, as therapists, we are the only person to whom our clients can reveal their darker side, the parts of themselves that cause them deep shame and guilt. They are entrusting us with their deepest secrets and most troubling thoughts. They are searching for peace and tranquility in their mind, body and spirit. This job is not for the faint at heart. It can be incredibly draining and mentally, emotionally and physically taxing but at the same time, it is deeply fulfilling, rewarding and gratifying. I feel so much for my clients and want so very much for them. I want the survivors of abuse to know that the shame lies with the abuser, not with them. I want them to reclaim their sense of self and learn to find those worthy of their trust. I want the couples with whom I work to find their way back to each other. I want them to move from anger to empathy. I want them to become curious versus critical. I want them to care more about being happy than being right. I am humbled and honored to be a safe person for my clients and to walk alongside them on this journey we call life. I have now been in private practice for 30 plus years and while this pandemic has taken a toll on us all, I hope to continue to show up for my clients for many years to come.
Liz , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Liz (Karff) Seitz. I’m a very proud mom of two great kids and a psychotherapist in private practice working with individuals and couples. I started out in this field about 35 years ago and worked in a variety of hospitals and outpatient settings before starting my own private practice in 1992, I currently offer both virtual and in-person sessions. I love helping individuals and couples gain clarity and insight into why they are feeling lost or stuck and helping them break free from destructive patterns, thoughts and behavior. I help clients understand and unpack the many ways their family of origin experiences have shaped and informed their thoughts, choices, and actions. Some of the most common issues that I have worked with over the years are anxiety, depression, grief and loss, infertility/pregnancy loss, childhood sexual abuse, infidelity, divorce and all types of relationship and intimacy issues. I love helping couples address the issues that have divided them and created distance between them. I love moving them from anger to empathy and giving them tools to work through conflicts in a way that preserves the connection between them. I love helping couples reclaim or improve their sexual relationship so they can be more than just parents and domestic partners. I love helping clients release shame and guilt and teaching them how to love themselves again. Life is messy and complicated and it often leads us down paths we never imagined and challenges us in very unexpected ways. Therapy can provide a safe place to tell your story, feel your feelings, find your voice, strengthen your sense of self, heal your hurts and regain a sense of hopefulness and purpose. I’ve been truly honored to do this work and encounter so many brave, bright and beautiful souls. I am very proud of the fact that most of my clients are referred by other clients of mine and that is something I very much appreciate and don’t take for granted.. In addition to my practice, I have also loved being a faculty member at The Jung Center of Houston where I have taught courses on resilience, compassion fatigue for caregivers, the healing power of music, avoiding relationship pitfalls, and self-sabotage. I am currently working on a book about the various ways we get in our own way in life and in love. In addition to counseling, teaching and writing, I love to sing as music has always served as a great source of healing and joy for me. If people are interested in learning more, they can follow me on Instagram @lizseitztherapy, facebook Liz Seitz-Psychotherapist, or my website: lizseitz.com.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
Other than all the education, training, and clinical experience, I think a critical component of success in this field is making sure that you set aside time for self-care. Being a therapist is a great honor but also a huge responsibility. We can’t be effective caregivers if we are not adequately caring for ourselves. It really is true what they say on the plane, “Put the mask over yourself first before assisting others.” Therapists need to make sure they have a good work/life balance so they can continue to provide quality care. When therapists are not taking time to care for themselves, they are at much greater risk of compassion fatigue and burn-out. We also can experience vicarious traumatization from working with survivors of trauma and being exposed to so much grief and loss so it’s imperative that we have our own sources of support and make sure we are replenishing the well.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Honestly, I think what has enabled me to grow my clientele is producing quality work. I really think that applies to anyone in any field. You have to remain true to who you are and lead with passion, integrity, and a genuine desire to make a positive difference. Studies have shown that the greatest predictor of a successful therapeutic outcome is the therapeutic relationship. I think it’s really important for people to know that it has much less to do with what particular training you had or what theoretical model you follow and much more to do with how well you connect with your clients and how effective you are at making them feel seen, heard and understood. It takes a while to build a clientele but as long as you’re effective at what you do, the word will spread and the referrals will come.
Contact Info:
- Website: lizseitz.com
- Instagram: @lizseitztherapy
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/lizseitztherapy/
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/lizseitzpsychotherapist