Opening up is tough.

a flower opening up

Maybe you feel hesitant to start therapy.

You’ve been managing your feelings and pain on your own. That feels less scary than letting someone in–especially someone you’ve never met!

I understand that being vulnerable feels risky. It’s also courageous and the path to healing.

you are WORTH loving

∾

you are WORTH loving ∾

 

Hi, I’m Elizabeth.

I know how hard it can be to open your heart, especially when you’ve spent much of your life protecting it.

Elizabeth Johnston's therapy office in New Hampshire

I’m a licensed therapist in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, & Maine, certified Emotionally Focused Therapist, and Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapist.

I use my clinical training, life experience, and intuition to help my clients make deep and meaningful changes.

 

WHO I AM…

I want to learn about you and develop a human-to-human connection. Trust is the key to successful therapy. I invite you to come in just as you are.

I am guided by what works and committed to the process of change. We can’t change the past or control the future, but we can work towards building your resilience and flexibility.

I love my job. I will show up ready to work alongside you. I will see the best in you, no matter what, and work with you from a place of strengths and authenticity.

I am a wife, a mom, nature-lover, pet lover, aspiring interior designer, fitness enthusiast, and nutrition buff.

 Background & Training

You may be curious to know a bit more about my professional background.

  • I earned my master’s degree in Social Work at Simmons Graduate School of Social Work

  • I am licensed to provide therapy in MA, NH, & ME

  • I am a certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist (EFCT), certified Emotionally Focused Individual Therapist (EFIT), and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapist

  • I have 25 years of experience working in mental health

Elizabeth Johnston doing telehealth therapy
brown planner and a candle

What is EFT?

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The Theory

Emotionally Focused Therapy is based in the science of human “attachment” (aka, what we know about how humans bond with other humans from the moment of birth and throughout their lives).

EFT, developed by Dr. Sue Johnson, is a clinically-proven technique to help couples, families, and individuals heal from past hurts, learn new ways of connecting, understand themselves and others in a profound way, and end cycles of conflict and disconnection.

The Practice

In practice, EFT may look different from other therapies you may have seen in movies or experienced in your life!

I will play a very active role in the process. For example, there will be times I will prompt you to slow down and peel back the layers of your experience.

Equally, it’s an “in-the-moment” sort of approach. That means during sessions you will practice saying and doing things in a different way. This allows you to have new emotional experiences in a safe place.

The Goal

In relationships, negative cycles begin when we don’t feel safe or secure. We all protect ourselves from hurt–it’s a natural response. Sometimes the way we protect ourselves is a trigger for our partner.

The goal of EFT is to help you and your partner feel secure with one another–to know you can reach for one another when you need to. We build a strong foundation that can help decrease conflict and more importantly help you reconnect and repair when conflict occurs.

The Process

STEP 1:

Discovery Call: We will do a phone call to talk about whether we are a good match–energetically, clinically, and logistically.

STEP 2:

Assessment Period: The first few sessions are for gathering information, such as your personal and relationship history, and understanding your goals. In couples work, I will meet with each partner individually for one session.

STEP 3:

Feedback & Planning: I will give you my thoughts about your unique style and patterns and recommendations for how to meet the goals you want to achieve.

STEP 4:

Regular Sessions: For the best results, we will need to meet regularly. The frequency may vary depending on your unique situation and history. It may be weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.

Curious to learn more? 

couple sitting on a dock
individual walking on sand

Ready to get started?