Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Davis.
Hi Liz, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve known I wanted to be a therapist since I was fourteen, when I saw my first therapist! I adored her immediately and knew I wanted to be just like her one day. In high school, I took college-level psychology classes, attended Kansas State University for psychology, and ultimately got my bachelor’s degree from the University of Kansas. From there, I took a bit of a detour! I didn’t feel ready for graduate school yet. I chose to be the general manager of a restaurant in Lawrence, KS, where I worked for about seven years. Eventually, I realized that my favorite part of managing the restaurant was caring for my staff! With encouragement from family and friends, I ultimately chose to apply to and attend Friends University in Kansas City in 2019 and graduated with my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2021. I was honored that the faculty awarded me the Sheldon Louthan Award for an outstanding graduate student who promoted the field of Marriage and Family Therapy at my graduation! It was such a surprise! Upon graduating in 2021, I knew I wanted to start my own business and become a therapist in private practice. I started Liz Davis Therapy, and the business grew exponentially from there! Now, in 2024, I am independently licensed as an LMFT in the state of Missouri and an LCMFT in the state of Kansas. I am so grateful to have a thriving private practice and am honored to serve the Kansas City community by providing mental health care! I cannot express enough how much I feel I have my dream job! Fourteen-year-old me was right – being a therapist is an amazing vocation, and I am so grateful to all of my wonderful clients for allowing me to continue successfully pursuing my passion!
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In retrospect, there have been challenges along my journey to becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Graduate school at Friends University in Kansas City was incredibly rewarding and was truly a transformational experience; however, it was, at times, a very challenging experience with a rigorous curriculum and internship process where I began seeing clients as a Graduate Student Intern for the first time. The challenge of the program made me a better, more focused, and dedicated student, intern, and person. I was up at 4 am studying most mornings during the week, saw clients all day on the weekends, and poured my heart and soul into my coursework. Sometimes too much! At times, the stress led to overwhelm, and there were a couple of moments of breakdowns where I didn’t know if I could keep going. With the support of my partner, I was able to find strength and develop the resilience to finish graduate school successfully. Graduation was truly a celebration!
Starting my business, Liz Davis Therapy, was initially smooth as I wanted to build my caseload slowly and work three days a week. Life had other plans for me, though! Clients quickly flooded in, and I ultimately worked five days a week for about a year. I love my work, but the struggle of burnout is real! Over the three years I’ve been in private practice, I’ve experienced burnout about three times. It was always due to overworking. I truly care about my clients deeply, and I wanted to take on every client who sought me out! I had to learn through trial and error that sometimes I have to pause taking on new clients, go on a waitlist, or even decline new clients altogether for a few months. This is incredibly hard for me to do, as I want to help as many people as I can; however, it’s been a vital lesson for me so that I can maintain a healthy work-life balance, keep myself well also, and make sure my career as a Marriage and Family Therapist is sustainable for decades to come!
Thanks for sharing that. Please tell us a bit more about your business.
Liz Davis Therapy is a private practice mental health care business where I provide therapy services to individuals, couples, and families in the Kansas City Metro community. I specialize in working with anxiety, depression, trauma and PTSD, self-esteem, life transitions, relationships, couples and marriage counseling, and many other specializations listed on my website. I am proud to have built a strong brand identity that truly reflects me as a person. From my website to my office to how I present in session, clients come in knowing exactly what to expect. My brand identity is eclectic and inclusive. I intentionally targeted a diverse clientele and wanted to serve all people in the KC area. That includes members of the LGBTQIA+ community and People of Color. I wanted my office to be a safe, cozy, warm space where anyone and everyone could feel comfortable sharing their stories, thoughts, and feelings while feeling acceptance, care, and non-judgment. The way I provide therapy may set me apart because I work very intuitively and use aspects of who I am in my work. I am not a “blank slate” therapist that asks my clients questions. I strive to build strong relationships with my clients so that I know them on a deep level and they know who I am. As a client-centered therapist, I cater my style, approach, and theoretical orientation to the unique client in front of me and their personality. It’s not one-size-fits-all at Liz Davis Therapy! Each experience with a new client is an adventure as we collaborate on the journey of mental health healing!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I could not have done this alone. So, people ported, guided, and guided me in building and maintaining this business. First and foremost, my partner, Peter Soto, has been my biggest supporter, cheerleader, teammate, and advocate on this journey. I am so grateful that he understands what it takes to be a therapist, and he knows when to push me to be my best self and when to encourage me to cut back a bit and rest. Finding this balance has been crucial in providing high-quality mental health care to my clients. I have to be good at helping others! I also had so much support from supervisors, mentors, colleagues, friends, and many other therapists. We all need community and support to thrive truly. I am so grateful for the help these individuals have offered and continue to provide me with. I honestly couldn’t have done it without them!
Pricing:
- Individual Therapy: $175/session
- Couples Therapy: $250/session
- Family Therapy: $350/session
- Letters for Accommodations: $50
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lizdavistherapy.com
- Instagram: lizdavis_therapy
- Facebook: @lizdavistherapy
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-davis-therapy?trk=public_post_follow-view-profile
- Twitter: @Lizdavistherapy
