Meet Liza Detenber, Licsw

You have the tools within you, it’s about connecting to what’s already there.

Ready to feel like you’re in the driver’s seat of your life, instead of anxiety and overwhelm?

You’re in the right place.

I’m here to support you to connect to the wisdom and calm that’s already there.

You find yourself overwhelmed and anxious, like those emotions are ruling your life. You know you have deep wisdom inside but the overwhelm is making it hard to access it. You judge yourself for feeling “sensitive” or overstimulated. You’re doing big things yet you still feel small. You long to feel calm, centered, and connected to step into your power.

My style

My approach integrates the body with the mind so that all parts of you can feel calm, centered and confident. By befriending your emotions, you can feel in the driver’s seat of your life again.

EMDR and somatic therapy for anxiety, panic, self-esteem, highly sensitive people, phobias, in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Beacon Hill, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

I’m Liza and I help young adults and adults just like you: ones that have it within them to trust themselves, listen to their truths, feel calm and confident but just need the support and space to connect to what’s already there. The space I co-create with clients allows them to tap into their inner wisdom, practice self-acceptance and self-compassion, listen to the wisdom of their body, and learn to regulate the nervous system to ultimately feel more calm and confident.

It can be so painful to already be feeling so anxious and overwhelmed and then on top of that judge yourself for feeling that way. As a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) who experiences anxiety myself, I get it; I’ve been there. I’ve found so much relief and calm come from the simple yet profound (and hard) act of accepting whatever emotions are there. From there, self-trust and self-confidence is built. By learning to accept your emotions, you can learn to soothe those parts of you that are getting activated and feel centered and confident again.

Many approaches to therapy for anxiety focus on changing your thoughts to change your emotions. While that can be helpful, it can often leave people feeling like “something is wrong” with them if they can’t “fix” their thoughts to get “rid of” anxiety, low self-esteem, or overstimulation. The reality is that anxiety and overwhelm are natural human responses, like any other emotion. Many clients come to me after that kind of therapy and say, “I know it intellectually, but I don’t know it emotionally” and blame themselves for continuing to feel anxiety, low self-esteem, or overwhelm. Nothing is wrong with you! Your nervous system is doing exactly what it is supposed to do and feeling emotions is 100% natural! Together we will befriend your nervous system and emotions, learn what your responses are, with curiosity. From there we will explore what helps your nervous system know it is safe so that new positive beliefs arise from a fully integrated place, allowing for deep calm and confidence.

You can step into your power.

My guiding principles

Curiosity

When we can explore ourselves with curiosity we allow vulnerable parts to show us what they need to feel soothed; from there growth occurs.

Trust

Trust is one of the foundations of relationships. I work to create a safe space and a therapeutic relationship with a foundation of trust and authenticity.

Compassion

Holding curiosity allows compassion to naturally arise. When we can shower our vulnerable parts with compassion, they can settle back allowing our wise parts to be in the driver’s seat again.

Safety and Collaboration

We are a team. Safety often comes from a place of collaboration and consent. We will go at your pace, checking in along the way to make you’re stretching and growing and feel safe while doing so. I believe that each therapeutic relationship allows for both the client and therapist to learn from and impact one another.

Cultural Humility

I recognize that systems of oppression impact all systems, including spaces of healing. As humans in this society, it is important to name and acknowledge the effects of oppressive systems on our bodies and minds. I believe deeply in cultural humility and ground myself in the life work of unpacking white supremacy culture and engaging in anti-racism learning and practices. I work to create a space that is inclusive of all identities, while holding curiosity of how these identities may be impacted by systems of oppression.

Training & Education

EMDR and somatic therapy for anxiety, panic, self-esteem, highly sensitive people, phobias, in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Beacon Hill, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
EMDR and somatic therapy for anxiety, panic, self-esteem, highly sensitive people, phobias, in Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Beacon Hill, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

  • Smith College School of Social Work (MSW)

  • EMDR Approved Consultant

  • EMDR Certified Therapist

  • The Distancing Technique: How to treat OCD & Anxiety Disorders with EMDR

  • EMDR and Ego States Advanced Training with Trauma Therapist Institute

  • EMDR and Complex Trauma Advanced Training with Trauma Therapist Institute

  • EMDR, Neuroscience and Somatic Workshop with Trauma Therapist Institute

  • IFS Informed EMDR Advanced Training Trauma with Therapist Institute

  • Internal Family Systems Introductory Training

  • Certified Complex Trauma Professional Training

  • Sensory Motor Arousal and Regulation Therapy (SMART) Foundations Trained

  • Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC) foundations and consultation from Kristine Kinniburgh

  • Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Level 1 Trained (RO-DBT)

  • Circle Training in Restorative Practices at Suffolk University

  • Breathe for Change Yoga Teacher Training (RYT-200) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for School Certified

  • Yoga Trainer Training with Adhikara Yoga School (RYT-200)