Liza Harbison

What happens in a typical therapy session?

While therapy is tailored to meet the unique needs of my clients for each particular session, there are a few common phases. At the beginning, I use qualitative interview get-to-know-you questions and sometimes quantitative assessments to get a clear picture of each person, the problem history and present state of circumstances. At the first session, I will ask my clients about what they do with their time, what recharges/ energizes them, a history leading up to the problem(s), what their contribution and attempts to resolving those problems have been, and what’s worked and what has not.   Then I summarize my understanding of the people and issues involved, explain a working hypothesis and discuss a plan for our work together. In early sessions, I will usually map out clients’ family structure and any salient patterns by drawing an intergenerational family map, called a genogram.   In the middle phase, we do the “hard work” which includes check ins about any out of session work, updates on the attempted actions, reinforcements for what works, instruction and practice of relevant coping skills, dives into deeper layers of meaning.   In the end phase of therapy, we consolidate the growth and gains so clients continue to do what works, remember why and how it does, work on acceptance of what cannot be or has not yet changed, and express any hopes and wishes that remain for the future.

What do you think allows change to happen?

Information, insight, perspective coupled with desire and willingness to try something new, or to remember what used to work but was forgotten, then doing it.  Noticing what works now and reinforcement to continue doing those things.   Being open and flexible to adjust when new circumstances arise.

What do you think gets in the way of change?

 A lack of self awareness or at least lack of willingness to take personal responsibility.   When we assign responsibility to others more than ourselves, we fail to see our agency or power in the situation and thus we give away our power and leave ourselves powerless.

How can you tell if therapy is effective?

 When my clients tell me so.   Also, when they are done with one topic and move onto a new topic, need sessions less and less frequently, and let me know they are ready to terminate therapy.   I have been a therapy client myself and feel most grateful to my therapist when I have internalized the questions coping abilities and am empowered to be independent. 

What made you interested in becoming a psychotherapist?

Consciously, having had very rewarding personal relationships, experiencing the empowering impacts of deep, intimate communication and human connection.  Subconsciously, I would suspect family of origin conflict I wished I could help resolve and my parents’ divorce has something to do with it too.

How do you like to spend time outside of work?

I enjoy quality time with my husband, our daughter, and fur-baby Labrador Retriever, as well as the rest of our family and friends. My most frequent pastimes include cooking, journaling, ballroom dancing, running, being out in nature, reading, napping and binging on a good Netflix series.