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Religious Trauma

Ry Smith, MA

Julie Liszka
Professional Counselor Associate
Current clients can book a therapy session here
I work with:
I Specialize in:

Helping People Understand the Roots of Their Patterns and Create Lasting Change.

Does this sound familiar?

  • Do you feel stuck in patterns that keep repeating no matter how hard you try to change them?
  • Do stress, overwhelm, or burnout make it hard to feel present in your life?
  • Do anger, shame, or perfectionism get in the way of your relationships or your own peace of mind?
  • Are you moving through a transition or identity shift and wondering who you are on the other side?
  • Are you wanting to heal from unresolved childhood wounds, trauma, or grief?
  • Are you wanting more connection and meaning in relationships and daily life?

Whether your symptoms show up as exhaustion, conflict, or just that quiet sense that “something has to change,” therapy offers a path forward.

I Can Help.

I work with adults who are ready to look beneath the surface and create lasting change. Together, we’ll uncover the roots of what keeps you stuck, explore the needs that have gone unmet, and build new ways of responding with clarity and intention.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Slow down and notice your emotional triggers
  • Break cycles of anger, shame, or disconnection
  • Manage stress and burnout with tools that actually work
  • Build deeper, more authentic relationships
  • Move toward a life that feels freer, more grounded, and aligned with who you truly are

What can you expect?

  • A warm, collaborative space where you’ll feel supported but also challenged to grow.
  • A balance of insight and practical skills you can carry into your daily life.
  • A chance to laugh, reflect, and reconnect with parts of yourself that may have felt hidden or stuck.

 

 

Before becoming a therapist, I worked as a career counselor in higher education, where I helped students and professionals navigate transitions, clarify their goals, and find meaningful next steps. I also spent time in the military and environmental science fields, experiences that deepened my perspective on resilience, identity, and change.

In therapy, I draw from Schema Therapy, Internal Family Systems, Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy, Solution Focused, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Relational Life Therapy, and attachment-based approaches to help you not just cope, but transform the way you understand and live your story.

When I’m not working with clients, I’m often at the forge shaping steel into useful tools. The process requires patience, attention, and care — qualities I also bring into my work as a therapist.

Jesse Cetz, MA

Julie Liszka
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Current clients can book a therapy session here
I work with:
I Specialize In:

Are you navigating one of these areas in your life?

  • Relationship issues
  • Marital conflicts
  • Intercultural communication
  • Racial/ethnic identity exploration
  • Systemic racism
  • Life transitions
  • Grief and loss
  • Men’s issues
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Premarital support

What would it look like to work with me?

I believe in helping you on your path toward flourishing relationships. I am a first-generation Latino with white privilege who grew up in a low-socioeconomic neighborhood. I received my master’s degree from George Fox University in Marriage, Couples and Family counseling. I utilize an attachment-based approach (Emotionally Focused Therapy) that emphasizes change occurring in the therapy room with an exploration of core emotions at the root. I also use mindfulness as a way to gain awareness into the present moment. I have 4.5 years of experience in higher education helping young adults navigate racial/ethnic identities and life transitions. You can expect me to show up as the unique me because I value you bringing your unique you.

Potential counseling outcomes

  • Learning how to communicate with your partner
  • Feeling connected with your partner
  • Increased understanding of your internal world
  • Identifying and expressing your emotional needs

Paris Hunt, LCSW

Julie Liszka
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Current clients can book a therapy session here
I work with:
I Specialize In:

Does this sound familiar?

  • Are you struggling with perfectionism and procrastination?
  • Do you find that you tend to leave yourself out of the equation when making decisions, then struggle later with burn out and resentment?
  • Do you struggle with self-esteem or emotional regulation in conjunction with neurodivergence (imposter syndrome, burn-out, RSD, reactivity)?
  • Are you an adult child of parents with addiction issues/personality issues?
  • Are you experiencing emotional struggles or burn-out related to being in a caregiving profession or family role?  
  • Do you need a dedicated space to process grief and loss?

I can help.

I have significant professional experience working with people recovering from acute mental health crises, people navigating end-of-life and/or dementia as a patient or caregiver, and people in early recovery from active substance addiction.

What can you expect?

  • Increased ability to stay present and embodied throughout the day, thereby allowing you to better recognize and meet physical and emotional needs, recognize thinking patterns and enjoy opportunities for connection and pleasant experiences. 
  • Increased insight into how family, work and other social dynamics are affecting your nervous system.
  • Increased insight into your thought patterns and the things you do to cope.
  • Increased insight into how unmet needs result in unpleasant emotions, how to recognize emotions in the body, and how to use values (rather than just emotions and mood) as guides for decision-making/action. 
  • Increased ability to consistently keep yourself in the equation when making decisions. Increase in compassionate accountability for self and others. 

Kacie Maplethorpe, LPC

Julie Liszka
Licensed Professional Counselor
Current clients can book a therapy session here
I work with:
I Specialize In:

Does this sound familiar?

  • Feeling overwhelmed with anxiety, depression, or stress?
  • Struggling to process and cope with past experiences or traumatic events?

  • Difficulty regulating your emotions or setting healthy boundaries?

I Can Help

  • My goal is to create a safe, trauma-informed space where we can tailor the therapeutic experience to the client’s personal goals and needs. I prioritize a person-centered, non-judgemental, and collaborative approach to therapy.
  • My role is to help clients process their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I can help clients identify goals that align with their values and learn strategies to create long-lasting change.

  • My background and training includes Motivational Interviewing (MI), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I have several years of experience working with anxiety, depression, ADHD, grief, and trauma in multiple therapy settings.

What can you expect?

  • Clients can expect to leave therapy feeling heard and valued, with a greater sense of self-confidence and self-compassion.
  • Clients will find balance managing previous life experiences and being in the present moment.

  • Clients will build a toolbox of strategies that can help navigate current life stressors, overwhelming emotions, and create healthy boundaries.

Lauren Holmes, MA

Julie Liszka
Professional Counselor Associate
Current clients can book a therapy session here
I work with:
I Specialize In:

Does this sound familiar?

  • Are you struggling to adjust to a big life transition such as parenthood, loss, shifting values etc.?
  • Are you feeling unhappy or stressed in your relationship(s)?

  • Are you dealing with unresolved trauma from your family of origin?

I Can Help.

  • With a lot of interest and experience in big life transitions (grief, postpartum, job changes, and big moves) I have gathered a knowledge base of coping mechanisms as well as the understanding that often an empathetic ear and additional support can make all the difference in these times of change.
  • I have a deep belief that relationships (romantic, platonic, and therapist/client) are where so much growth, healing, and fulfillment can be found. Learning how to navigate difficult conversations and build healthy relationships is a must.

  • Looking back at past experiences, understanding how and why they may still be affecting us and finding new ways to cope, make sense of, and heal from them is a special area of focus for me.

What can you expect?

  • You will expand your coping skills to manage the stress and anxiety of big life transitions.
  • You will learn practical and usable tools and knowledge to help navigate and nurture your relationships.
  • You will develop new insights about the past and we will create a safe place for those parts to coexist with new parts of you.

Shannon Liebel, MA

Julie Liszka
Professional Counselor Associate
Current clients can book a therapy session here
I work with:
I Specialize In:

Does this sound familiar?

  • Are you struggling with anxiety or depression symptoms?
  • Have you experienced past or current trauma?
  • Are you finding it difficult to adjust to life changes or transitions?

I Can Help.

  • With 12 years of experience of teaching yoga, breath work, meditation, and mindfulness, my experience in somatic practices helps to regulate the nervous system and strengthening the mind – body connection
  • With unconditional support, I help guide clients to self empowerment and enhance their sense of self worth

What can you expect?

  • My clients express having navigated difficult life transitions and come out on the other side feeling empowered and excited for their next chapter.
  • Resolving past and current trauma has allowed clients to be more present in relationships and more authentic in how they show up in their life.
  • Clients will leave with tools and somatic practices to help regulate their nervous system and keep symptoms of anxiety and depression at bay.

August Smith, MS

Julie Liszka
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Current clients can book a therapy session here
I work with:
I Specialize In:

Does this sound familiar?

  • Struggling with your or a loved one’s gender identity, sexuality, or level of self-acceptance?
  • Experiencing difficulty in discussing, exploring, or engaging with intimacy, pleasure, or sex tied to shame, trauma, or relational distress?
  • Grappling with current, past, or generational trauma, seeking a safe space to process and utilize coping tools to expand your emotional capacity?

I Can Help.

  • I utilize integrative trauma-informed Narrative Therapy, DBT, and Polyvagal Theory to guide clients through understanding their internal beliefs shaped by early life experiences and how those foundations impact tolerance, behavior, and relational dynamics in adulthood.
  • I believe therapy can assist clients in unlocking their internal resources needed to promote individual and systemic growth, leading to meaningful change.
  • I implore a liberatory approach by analyzing the client’s context within the systems theory framework and the effects of interpersonal interactions on the client.

What can you expect?

  • I work on an individual and relational level to build clients’ innate resources, fortify distress tolerance, promote understanding of behavioral functionality, and fine-tune awareness of interacting communicative patterns.
  • My notable clinical interests include sex therapy, trauma processing, and identity exploration involving gender & sexuality, collectively framed by liberatory practices and systemic thinking.
  • As a queer and transgender therapist, I have experienced facets of systemic oppression and witnessed its impact on other marginalized communities, driving my own goal to expand the accessibility of mental health services and aim to provide a safe and inclusive therapeutic environment to support client’s mental health regardless of cultural or personal identities.

Wyatt Yurkovich, LPC

Julie Liszka
Licensed Professional Counselor
Current clients can book a therapy session here
I work with:
I specialize in:

Does this sound familiar?

  • Are you feeling worried, anxious, or depressed about major life changes or transitions?
  • Do you feel like you are stuck or struggling in your relationships with family, friends and loved ones?
  • Wanting to build a stronger sense of self and identity?

I Can Help.

  • I’m here to help clients learn and develop skills to better manage their emotions, life stressors, and deepen their relationships with themselves and others.
  • I create a safe and welcoming space for clients to explore their concerns and experiences through a humanistic and psychodynamic approach.
  • I help clients identify and work toward their therapeutic goals in a collaborative way, as I believe each client is the expert in their own life.

What can you expect?

  • A safe and non-judgemental space to freely express your thoughts and emotions.
  • An increased ability to manage and process your emotions and life stressors.
  • The opportunity to strengthen and grow your relationships with others and with yourself.

Libby Quinn, CSWA

Julie Liszka
Clinical Social Worker Associate
Current clients can book a therapy session here
I work with:
I specialize in:

Does this sound familiar?

  • Are you anticipating or experiencing a major transition and feeling overwhelmed by change?
  • Are you wanting to explore your fears, desires and anxieties or make better sense of their origins?
  • Do you find yourself navigating questions about identity and wanting to build a stronger sense of self?

I Can Help.

  • My approach focuses on understanding the deeper stories that shape our lives, helping clients to reframe their narratives and empower their personal growth.
  • My experience in social work, public policy and disability justice lead me to encourage clients to consider the larger systems at play, and reclaim agency in a sometimes imperfect, unpredictable world. 

  • Using a strengths-based approach, I work with you to identify, build and reinforce the unique strengths and resources which support your pursuit of self-determination.

What can you expect?

  • You will be able to utilize your strengths and access your personal sources of power more readily, leaving you feeling grounded and autonomous.
  • Our work will be collaborative – together, we will explore identities, challenges and aspirations which are important to you, ultimately building resilience and autonomy.

  • You will be met with respect, patience and curiosity but also be encouraged to explore and expand your comfort zone, as it relates to self-advocacy and self-determination. 


As a graduate of Smith College School of Social Work (Northampton, MA), I was trained in a range of modalities, with an emphasis on psychodynamic approaches. I strongly believe in the power – and fun! – of stories, and utilize narrative therapy principles to explore the impact of the stories we tell ourselves, as well as the larger narratives told about the identities we might hold. Having lived with a chronic illness since birth, my own disability experience has shaped how I invite clients to consider the role of social norms and expectations in the development of positive self-esteem. My practice borrows from relational therapy, in which I encourage clients to reflect on the impact of past or current relationships, including the working relationship which we shape together. 

Rita Melnikova, MA

Julie Liszka
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Current clients can book a therapy session here
I work with:
I Specialize In:

Does this sound familiar?

  •  Experiencing a lack of accessibility, responsiveness and engagement in your relationship?

  • Feeling out of control and driven by strong and confusing emotions

  • Experiencing a sense of disconnection within oneself and with others?

I Can Help.

  • So much of what impacts us on a daily basis has roots in relationships; our relationships with people around us but also with ourselves. I seek to understand clients’ needs in the context of their individual lives, experiences and relationships.

  • I am direct and efficient in my use of my models, utilizing Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) with couples and Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS) with individuals.

  • I know that life can get really messy, relationships can take many forms and sometimes the history people share together can seem too complicated to be understood. I am here to hear your story, follow your lead as the expert in your own life and support you in the changes that you want to make.

What can you expect?

  • Clients will walk away with more clarity about what they want for themselves and in their relationships, gaining skills in identifying, understanding and expressing their emotions.

  • Individuals participating in couples therapy will begin to express themselves more fully to their partners, while feeling supported and understood by them.  They will find new collaborative ways to handle situations which have previously led to conflict and disconnection.

  • Clients will find themselves adopting an US vs. the PROBLEM stance more often than the ME vs. YOU stance when finding themselves in conflict with their partner.

  • Individual clients will experience a newfound sense of clarity in understanding their own emotions and where they come from. They will feel an increased sense of control in their lives and feel empowered to respond to life’s stress in a way that tends toward growth, calmness and security.

Brendan Moore, CSWA

Julie Liszka
Clinical Social Worker Associate
Current clients can book a therapy session here
I work with:
I Specialize In:

Does this sound familiar?

  • Are you navigating questions around identity (such as gender, culture, race, disability)?
  • Are you struggling with repetitive relationship or career conflicts that don’t make sense?

  • Are you trying to adapt to and make meaning out of a painful event (breakup, divorce, illness, death, or other loss)?

I Can Help.

  • I work with clients to identify and change how unconscious patterns from the past show up painfully in the present
  • My advanced training in psychoanalysis, literature, and feminist theory have taught me to focus not just on symptoms, but on the life story of the person in front of me

  • Culture and structures of exploitation contribute strengths and vulnerabilities to every person’s life, and I strive to welcome these concerns into the consulting room in a spirit of humility

What can you expect?

  • You will derive greater satisfaction and meaning from life, work, and relationships
  • You will experience more clarity on issues of identity, love, and long-term goals

  • You will find improved resilience in the face of life’s challenges

Halle Winkler, MA

Julie Liszka
Marriage and Family Therapist Associate
Current clients can book a therapy session here
I work with:
I specialize in:

Does this sound familiar?

  • Are you or your child struggling with questions of identity?
  • Does it feel hard to find a “new normal” after things have changed?
  • Are you hoping to strengthen your relationships but aren’t sure where to begin?

I Can Help.

  • I work from a systemic lens, seeking to understand you within the context of the communities and relationships you’re part of.
  • My approach is trauma-integrated and attachment-based, meaning I thoughtfully consider how trauma and our earliest relationships shape how we experience the world today.

What can you expect?

  • A strength-based approach where we move at your pace.
  • A deeper connection with yourself and your body.
  • Practical coping strategies you can use right away, alongside tools to address the deeper patterns underneath.

I’m passionate about supporting individuals and families in cultivating healthy relationships with themselves and with others. I primarily work with children, teens, young adults, and parents, and I incorporate whole-family treatment when appropriate.