We had the good fortune of connecting with Liz Zhou and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Liz, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started my business, Seasons of Growth Counseling, because I wanted a way to practice psychotherapy and support clients in a way that aligns with my values and needs. As a therapist in private practice, I get to make decisions about how I run my practice, what type of work that I do, and how much I work – in a way that ultimately allows me to be present and show up fully for my clients, my life, and my community.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a trauma therapist in private practice. I work with highly sensitive, neurodivergent adults and couples who are healing from the past and wanting to reconnect with themselves. As a highly sensitive and neurodivergent person myself, I know how difficult it can be to exist in a neurotypical world, where being “too sensitive” or “too different” is looked down upon.
A lot of counseling graduate programs don’t offer specialized training on working with highly sensitive and neurodivergent people (or other diverse identities) – and as a result, there aren’t always a lot of therapists available to support this specific community. In my private practice, I chose to specialize in neurodivergence & trauma because I know how meaningful it is to be supported by someone who shares these lived experiences and can truly “speak your language.”
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d check out MeowWolf with them! And then we’d enjoy a light hike outside the city. St. Mary’s Glacier near Idaho Springs is one of my favorites.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My very first therapist – whom I met at my college counseling center in Vermont – was a huge part of my journey of becoming a therapist.
I remember he lent me a book called: “Food of the Gods: The Search for the Original Tree of Knowledge A Radical History of Plants, Drugs, and Human Evolution” by Terrence McKenna. I devoured that book – it was so captivating, and opened my mind to a completely new perspective on plant medicines and human consciousness. I’ve been curious about the nature of the mind, spirit, and psychedelic medicines ever since! And it’s extremely fitting that I landed in Denver, Colorado – which is a huge hub for psychedelic therapy.
Website: https://www.seasonsofgrowthcounseling.com
Instagram: @liz.holistic.therapist
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Liz-Zhou