Lizelle McDonagh

Personal perspective on therapy:

For me, therapy is a place where you’re equipped to deal with life’s challenges and don’t feel like you have to carry everything alone. It’s a space where someone truly listens to you, helps reflect your experiences back to you, and supports you as you work through things that feel overwhelming or hard to make sense of on your own. Over time, therapy can have an impact on many areas of life, including school, work, relationships, parenting, and how you relate to yourself.

Approach to therapy:

When someone comes in and shares that they’re struggling, I want to understand where that struggle is really coming from, not just what’s happening on the surface. I invite clients to talk openly about what’s been going on in their lives and ask thoughtful, direct questions to help them explore things they may not have felt safe talking about before. My goal is to create a space where clients feel comfortable enough to say the things they’ve been holding back, examine the thoughts that shape how they see themselves, and begin to shift their perspective in ways that allow real change to happen.

Expected growth for clients:

Over the course of therapy, I hope clients begin to see themselves and their situations differently and feel more hopeful about what’s possible for their future. I want them to leave sessions with new perspectives, practical tools they can use in everyday life, and a stronger sense of confidence in themselves. Over time, this can show up in how they handle stress, relate to others, and take care of themselves.

Areas of focus:

I feel especially drawn to working with women, including single mothers, as well as individuals who have experienced trauma. At the same time, I’m open to working with people from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences. As I continue to grow and gain experience as a counselor, I expect my areas of focus to become clearer, but right now I value the opportunity to work with clients from all walks of life.

Education:

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities from the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. I am currently working toward my Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University.

Language:

English