LIZ PRETTE 

Liz Prette brings a wide variety of experiences to her counselling practice that have enhanced and developed her work with individuals, couples, families, children and adolescents.  From 1996 until 2007, she worked as an elementary school counsellor and had extensive contact with families, children and teachers, offering resources and teaching life skills.  She has worked for many years with the youth organization, Young Life, where she has gained a rich understanding and enjoyment of teenagers.   In 2007, she joined the group of clinicians at Arbour Counselling to further cultivate her passion for people as they grow and change in their lives.

 

Liz works with individuals, couples and families through a variety of issues and situations.  As a therapist, she conceptualizes her work with a systemic perspective and encourages families to observe how they function both as a whole unit and as individuals. With couples she works collaboratively to discover destructive patterns and replace them with patterns that increase marital satisfaction.  Art, play and experiential therapy are incorporated into her practice with with all clients but especially children and teenagers. She has training and experience in trauma informed counselling, crisis management & debriefing, grief counselling, parenting skills, conflict resolution, anxiety and depression, eating disorders, emotionally focused couple’s therapy and sexual abuse recovery.

 

Liz has a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Victoria and a teacher’s degree from Simon Fraser University. She received her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counselling from the University of British Columbia and is a registered member of the B.C. Association of Clinical Counsellors.  Presently, Liz and her husband are enjoying the new stage of having three young adult children, while juggling the joys and struggles of life and careers.

 

Liz brings an easy lightness and sense of humour to her work. Her sensitive listening and care allow people to freely explore areas of cognition, emotion or behaviour that inhibit growth.  She believes strongly in her clients’ ability to discover wisdom, strength and hope in spite of and because of what they have experienced in life.