Liz Tong, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Therapist & Clinical Director
License #49742
How I Can Help
I help people who are stuck, depressed, or overwhelmed, and work with the parts of themselves that interfere with feeling happy and satisfied. I aim to create a safe & caring space so that you can feel open to be yourself & talk about your struggles without shame or judgment. I honor the uniqueness of each individual and will work in a way that meets your current needs (whether you are moving through a crisis situation, having relationship issues, needing help managing anxiety or depression, or wanting to focus on personal growth).
Licensed & Experienced
I am a licensed psychotherapist and have been practicing in the Bay area for over 15 years working with adolescents, adults, and couples. I truly believe that when an individual finds peace and happiness within, their presence not only positively impacts themselves, but all those around them. In those moments, the world becomes more at peace as well.
EDUCATION & WORK BACKGROUND
California Institute of Integral Studies - MA in Integral Counseling Psychology
Yale University - MPH in Health Policy & Administration
University of Rochester - BA in Health & Society
Integral Counseling Center (San Francisco)
College of San Mateo, Health & Psychological Services
Asian Community Mental Health Services
Aids Healthcare Foundation
The Well Clinic San Francisco
My Specialties
I enjoy working with people who are in transitional points in life and want to develop better self-esteem, relate better to others, and have more confidence in their life path and purpose. I am also particularly skilled at helping people resolve old trauma that may be holding them back from living a happy and healthy life. I have advanced training as a couples therapist & specialize in working with interracial/cultural couples.
I help individuals and couples with:
Self-Esteem
Anxiety
Depression
Exploring Life Purpose
New Partnerships and Marriages
Premarital Counseling
Interracial Couples Therapy
Transitioning Careers
Loss of a Loved-one
Breakups and Divorce
Becoming New Parents
Pregnancy and Postpartum
Cultural and Identity Issues
My Style
My style of therapy is warm, attentive, & engaged. I believe we all need to be heard, understood & truly seen for who we are; for this is where a sense of self-trust can deepen & self-esteem can strengthen. One of my goals is to help you feel less burdened & less alone in your struggles and also provide coping strategies when you are feeling overwhelmed.
What We’ll Do
I will encourage you to talk about whatever is on your mind or troubling you and will help you by listening closely to what may be happening for you internally, and providing my reflection and feedback on what I see and hear. I will also help you make sense of your experience when emotions become overwhelming and "thinking" becomes harder. Sometimes, I may ask you about your thoughts on the origins of certain beliefs or ways of coping and help you consider how it may or may not be serving you. At other times, we may reflect together on how the therapeutic relationship may inform us of how it might be for you in other relationships and begin to work through this together.
effective & up-to-date methods
To provide my clients with the best possible therapy, I am continuously engaged with trainings & the latest research on psychology, trauma, & attachment theories as well as weekly consultations with senior clinicians in the field.
Opportunity for Power
I believe that when life seems most challenging, it can be an opportunity to find deeper powers within ourselves. This is where therapy can help you learn to think, feel, express, and manifest what is actually more authentic and true for you. As your therapist, I will meet you with genuine presence, respect, and psychological insight. I welcome people of all ages and life circumstances, and look forward to speaking with you and hearing more about how I might be able to help.
SPECIALIZED TRAINING
Integral Psychology: integrating your whole being - mind, body, heart, spirit, & cultural context
Psychodynamic Therapy: paying attention to the dynamics between therapist & client as well your personal history. There is a focus on the exploration of how one’s past experiences and unconscious thoughts affect their current behavior and mindsets.
EMDR: (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing): an effective modality for working with trauma (and other stuck emotions) which can sometimes be a helpful supplement with talk-therapy
AEDP (Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy): utilizes the connection of our emotions, thoughts, & bodily sensations
PACT (Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy): utilizes attachment theory, focusing in on moment-to-moment shifts in one's face, body, and voice. Helping partners learn to better understand and attune to each other to create a safer/secure attachment as well as address the effects of attachment threats.
EFT (Emotionally Focused Therapy): teaches couples how to deescalate from conflicts and explore the underlying feelings that keep them stuck in negative patterns of interaction.