Elizabeth Bierbaum Clarke (She/Her)

I think of myself as a general practitioner, whose personal style is warm and interactive. I utilize a relational approach informed by acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and mindful cognitive-behavioral (CBT) principles. Psychotherapy at Third Wave Wellness provides a unique opportunity to transform one’s suffering. Learning to be more present, create space for discomfort, and mine for greater meaning allows us to take new actions to find joy, calm and purpose. Therapy is highly collaborative, and we work together toward your goals. I received a BA in English from Skidmore College, and also studied photography, dance, and theatre for many years. I attended Smith College for my MSW, and very much value the wonderful clinician education I received there. In recent years I have pursued advanced training in Trauma, Gottman Couples Therapy, and Contextual Behavioral or Third Wave therapies. I loved being a student, and enjoy my continuing education.

I believe that we all have the ability to get unstuck, change and grow, including myself, and the first step is willingness. I'm a big fan of metaphors in the therapy space, and a particular favorite is viewing therapy as if it were surf camp - a place where we learn to read the ocean and better ride the waves of our big emotions. As Jon Kabat-Zinn once said, "You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." I am an ally for the queer community which means I support equal civil rights, gender equality, and LGBTQ social movements. I seek to challenge homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia in both my clinical world and in my personal life. I genuinely enjoy my time with my clients, but when I'm not in the office I love to cook, eat out, travel, Netflix binge, go to movies or the theatre, listen to loud or live music, read, take photos, golf (yes, I said golf), be near the water, and hang out with my family, our dog Sparky, and my friends.