Liz Gray, MSW, LCSW, RPT

Staff Therapist, Supervisor

Pronouns: she, her, hers

“The most powerful form of reward is relational. Positive interactions with people are rewarding and regulating.” - Bruce D. Perry, What Happened To You?

You’re a sensitive, empathic, deep feeler who spends so much time worrying about the comfort of others that setting boundaries and caring for yourself comes last. Maybe you’ve been told, “you’re too sensitive” throughout your life, you’re easily overstimulated in new environments, or deeply impacted by the people around you. If so, you might be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).

I’m Liz, and I specialize in working with highly sensitive adolescents and adults who have been impacted by depression, anxiety, life transitions, relationship concerns, trauma, and PTSD. As a HSP myself, I offer warmth and safety so your thoughts, feelings, and experiences can have a voice. 

My relational approach to therapy allows us to establish a deep connection. Therapy is YOUR time, which means that each session, I will show up in the way in which you need me. This could look like talk therapy sessions, engaging in expressive arts such as virtual sandtray therapy, or using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help you process unresolved memories and experiences.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with a Master of Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis and a Bachelor of Science from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. For the past 12+ years, I have worked with two-year-olds through adults in a variety of settings including community mental health, early intervention, public and therapeutic day schools as a School Social Worker, solo Private Practice, and group private practice. 

While I have advanced training as a Certified EMDR therapist, Registered Play Therapist (RPT), and Certified School Social Worker in IL, my clients have taught me more about vulnerability, resilience, and forgiveness than any class or degree. 

Outside my role as a therapist, I love to crochet, organize, curl up with a good mystery, or spoil my mini goldendoodle Bailey.  Fur babies are always welcome to join our virtual sessions!

liz@empoweredconnectionscounseling.com

(312) 767-2057 x 35