ABOUT
Hi, I’M ELIZABETH PARUCHURU.
I work with busy and high-performing individuals who are considering or transitioning to parenthood. I also work with parents undergoing a significant change, like a return to work or relationship renegotiation. My goal is to help you delight in this next phase of your life, while maintaining your unique identity and creating strong, meaningful relationships.
I help people create new scripts for parenthood. Maybe you want to be a parent very unlike your own. Maybe you live far away from family or friends, and don’t have the same supports others have when welcoming a new child. Or maybe you and your co-parent have radically different experiences with your own upbringings and are trying to forge a new way that respects both of your cultures, values, and desires. Together, we can unearth the meaning of this new phase and create a strong foundation for your family.
My Approach
I practice therapy differently. I enjoy working with people in transitional moments in a time-limited capacity. I want you to take your new skills and insights and go live your life.
I use evidenced-based, data driven tools for assessment
I begin work with each new client by performing a series of interviews and administering questionnaires. During this time, I learn your story, your desires, and your challenges. This intentionality sets a strong, important foundation for our therapeutic work, and it increases the likelihood that you will be satisfied with therapy.
I PARTNER with you to determine your goals
While I have a solid educational background and regularly participate in new trainings, I believe that you know your story better than anyone else. I will not sell you or your family a perspective of how things should be. I will be your guide on the side helping you to grow the life you want to create. Your autonomy and perspective are crucial to our work.
I BELIEVE THERAPY SHOULD HAVE AN END POINT
After your assessments, I will recommend a specific cadence to our appointments and the amount of time we should plan to work together. When we near the end of these sessions, we will evaluate your goal progress and determine if we will end our meetings, modify our timeline, or choose to approach some new goals together.
I FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS AND SKILL BUILDING
The story of your life matters. Together, we will ensure you have a healthy narrative and perspective. But my greatest utility as a therapist comes from working with you to take actionable steps to create the life and relationships you want, while supporting you through challenges when you try new approaches.
My CREDENTIALS
EDUCATION
Masters of Social Work, University at Albany: focus on marriage & family therapy, DBT & mindfulness practices, grief & loss, and psychoeducation - 2011
Bachelors of Religion, Vassar College: focus on the overlap of Eastern religions and Western psychology - 2005
CERTIFICATED TRAININGS
Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Level 1 & 2, The Gottman Institute - 2023 & 2024
Bringing Baby Home Educator, The Gottman Institute - 2024
Advanced Training, When Survivors Give Birth - 2018
Yoga Teacher, Kripalu - 2012
Holistic Health Counselor, The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in partnership with Columbia University - 2007
APPROACHES
Gottman Method
Narrative Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Mindfulness
Tara Brach - Radical Acceptance & RAIN
Existential
Brief BIOGRAPHY
I identify as a New Yorker, although I have farmed in Northern California, spent years in Germany, and have called the Pacific Northwest home for a decade. I’ve always been a helper — employed as a counselor and sought as a mentor — but I’ve also worked as a nonprofit leader and operations specialist. I am enthusiastic about volunteering, crafting meaningful moments, enjoying time with my children and partner, and pondering life’s big questions and how people from diverse cultures and places answer them.