Liza Patapenka
Provisional Psychologist
I want to work on combatting the idea that going to therapy means that you’re “weak” or “broken”. Those suffering from severe mental disorders are not the only ones who can benefit from therapy. Many of the distressing symptoms we may experience are normal reactions to abnormal life situations; learned behaviors that previously served us well but can no longer be maintained or work as effective coping mechanisms.
Do you avoid or put off tasks that require putting yourself out there socially? Does speaking out at work or in unfamiliar situations make your heart, and your mind fill with worries of saying the wrong thing or being made fun of?
Do you procrastinate and put things off till the last minute, constantly misplace anything you put down, find it impossible to remember important appointments without reminders, and are only able to focus easily on things you find very interesting or stimulating?
Do you get stuck in a loop of negative thinking, always imagining the worst possible scenarios, and feeling like you are unable to move forward in life without worry? Do you find it difficult to find motivation, and feel as though it has been a long time since you felt fulfillment and happiness in your daily routine?
These are just some of the challenges that therapy can help address. Together, we will create goals that are authentic to the improvements you would like to see in your life, and work together to develop tools and strategies that can help turn them into reality. These goals can be anything from being able to walk into a store without anxiety, increasing intimacy and connection with your significant other, laying to rest traumatic memories that have been bothering you since childhood, and not criticizing yourself for every little mistake. It can be overwhelming trying to address hardships that you’ve had for so long, or to find the specific causes for feeling lost or unhappy seemingly without reason. I believe that every individual is an expert in their own life, and therefore is most qualified to educate others on their perspective and experiences. My role is to provide a judgement free environment where this can be expressed, and to make sure that we see measurable progress in the attainment of goals, big and small.
Who am I? I am a registered provisional psychologist, graduated with a Master of Counselling Psychology from Yorkville University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Calgary. I am an artist, an equine sport enthusiast, an adoptive parent to a retired patrol K9, and a jiu jitsu purple belt. I am interested in how combat sports can help people with anxiety, ADHD, and sexual trauma. I passionately believe in a wholistic approach to treatment, as eating, sleeping, and exercising are the load bearing walls that support mental health. I practice Solutions-Focused Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Exposure Therapy, Imagery Rescripting, Mindfulness Therapy, and Psychoeducation.
I look forward to meeting you!