Meet the Therapist

Liz Shields is an LIMHP in the state of Nebraska and National Certified Counselor. She received her graduate degree in Clinical Counseling from Bellevue University in 2021, and had previously graduated with her Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice in 2013 from CSU San Bernardino. For many years, she worked in employment roles in government jobs and nonprofit establishments, such as working as corrections officer, corrections unit case worker, domestic violence advocate, psychiatric technician, and employment specialist. 

Liz started her own private practice, Soulful Living Counseling, in 2021. Back in 2015, Liz gave birth to a beautiful boy named Vinnie, who was severely injured at birth and fully dependent on a caregiver for life, because of medical negligence during labor and delivery.  Having such a unique and challenging lifestyle as family caregiver to him had made it very obvious that it would be difficult to work for someone else for the long term. As a result, she went back to school for clinical counseling and established her own business in an attempt to still fulfill her dream of being able to serve others--while also being able to fulfill the daily responsibilities required of being a mother to a child with complex medical needs. 

She had already felt like a therapist in some of her previous work roles, and so the transition felt very natural and like it was most definitely her calling in life. It was also very obvious that mental health is a huge societal need that is not going anywhere anytime soon. And that it is something that is lacking in many ways, including the ways in which it is being addressed. It is still being overly stigmatized, and sometimes the help that people are needing is unfortunately nowhere to be found. Liz has experienced that herself, from the client standpoint too, and knows what it feels like to constantly be trying, and still unable to feel heard or understood. This is part of why she decided to attempt to be part of the solution and not the problem. There will never be enough helping professionals to meet the huge need, but there are plenty of us who can try our best and can do our due diligence for our clients while supporting their needs.

During practicum and internship courses and while earning her counseling degree, she spent time learning about private practice, while also providing direct client care to a variety of adult populations. Liz worked with clients from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds who were looking to address a variety of topics in therapy. Together, they addressed client needs, including but not limited to anxiety, neurodivergence, depression, complex trauma, grief, parenting, relationships, career counseling, self esteem, identity, values, personal goals, stress, dissociative disorders, and more.  Others have described Liz's therapy style as being gentle, compassionate, nurturing and supportive, but also being able to challenge someone when it may be wanted or needed. She has been trained in a variety of therapeutic approaches, but prefers to utilize a strengths-based approach that is unique to each individual's preference and emotional needs. 

Some of her favorite therapeutic interventions include narrative therapy, person-centered therapy, and holistic therapy (therapies and practices that treat the entire body and the whole person). In her free time, when she is not with her awesome clients, she enjoys spending time with her 9 year old son and 3 month old baby, family and friends, watching crime shows and documentaries, eating sushi, drinking coffee and traveling or going on adventures whenever possible. Liz looks forward very much to learning about you, and spending time looking at the world through your eyes.