Liz Deardorff

My life experiences have driven my purpose- to bring togetherness and understanding to families, individuals and communities so we can feel more connected and less isolated in this lonely and traumatized world. This has become more and more clear through the last few years, however, loneliness and disconnect have been prominent for decades. My purpose has led me to seek trainings and approaches to make this goal a reality. I strongly believe in communal and relational healing, often starting with the family system. I deeply believe in the importance of repair, healing, and growth within our relationships to fully develop a secure sense of self. Reparative work often needs to start within the individual and exploring their attachment ruptures, and stepping toward generational healing. I have worked with adolescents, adults, couples and families since 2010. First as a wilderness primary therapist and then transitioning to Clinical Director of the Family Services Department. As the Clinical Director, I created a program that included psychoeducational webinars, workshops, parent coaching and family intensives that allowed families to dive into greater understanding of their family members and begin deep reparative work. I specialize in trauma-focused and attachment approaches. I am trained and utilize Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Brainspotting, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), somatic therapy, and Trauma Center Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY). I bridge these therapeutic techniques with experiential and sometimes wilderness-based activities that have proven very effective in creating connection. I will always be a midwesterner at heart and you might hear it in my accent. Born and raised in the midwest, I have roots in rural Indiana and Wisconsin as well as city roots in my favorite city, Chicago. I received my undergraduate degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison and achieved my Master of Social Work with a focus in Child and Family and Mental Health from Loyola University- Chicago. The rivers and forest of Oregon have pulled me in and I am often found hiking around waterfalls, whitewater kayaking, foraging, dancing, reading, rooting for the Wisconsin Badgers, and playing with Oliver, my golden retriever pup.