HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Increased incidences of violence, mass shootings, church shootings, police-citizen conflict, suicide, bullying, abuse, anger, bitterness, addiction and homelessness, combined with her own life’s experiences, have led Houston-based psychotherapist Dr. Liz L. West to launch “A New Healing.” A New Healing is an unconventional approach to promote psychiatric healing and overall wellness. This alternative technique integrates spirituality and psychotherapy to address spiritual, behavioral, emotional, and mental health issues.
Dr. West expressed, “From my research and experience, approaching this crisis using a psycho-spiritual, as well as a punitive, judicial or legislative, solution is the key to overall wellness.”
In Houston, one in every five citizens has a mental illness that could benefit from treatment. Of these, more than 180,000 have a serious mental illness. Due to the lack of financial resources, and cultural stigma, mental illness often goes untreated. The consequences of untreated mental illness are numerous and include increased stigma, further decline in mental health, increased mental hospitalization, economic loss, decline in physical health, increased entry into juvenile/adult criminal systems, homelessness and even worse--death.
Additionally, Houston has the largest homeless population in Texas and the 8th largest in the nation. U.City Guides named Houston one of the ugliest cities in the world due to its “large impoverished and homeless population,” further stating, “close to one in five families lives below the poverty line.”
Encouraged by education-related bills that were recently passed by the 84th Legislature, Dr. West expressed, “New implementation, such as mental health first aid training, youth suicide prevention training, and even encouraging health science career pathways in our schools, are positive steps toward becoming better equipped to address the mental health issues that plague our community. I believe we are on the right track for mitigating the growing mental illness crisis with the collaboration of churches, schools, community leaders and mental health professionals.”
“During my professional career, I’ve found that the African-American, Latino, Asian, Native American, Military Veteran and LGBT communities, as well as some religious cultures, are reluctant to seek help. Many churchgoers have expressed guilt for the inability to ‘exercise faith’ in order to rid themselves of such diagnosis as PTSD, postpartum depression, ADHD, childhood trauma, thoughts of suicide or addiction. While I do have the ability to exercise my faith, I also understand that God has put in the hearts of many trained and licensed psychotherapists, a desire to help those who are suffering with mental illnesses and emotional disturbances.”
“Before A New Healing, I too was reluctant to seek treatment, while suffering with poor self-image, anger and bitterness,” said Dr. West. “Realizing that neither religion alone nor psychotherapy alone was the solution for me, I began to search overall wellness and not wellness in one dimension or the other. So, I took a psycho-spiritual approach by combining the two, included them in my everyday life, then the phrase, ‘A New Healing,’ came into my spirit. I accepted it, and then my healing began. Now, my spirituality is awakened, and I have wellness, wholeness, inner peace and freedom. By offering A New Healing, I want to take the reluctance, fear and stigma out of seeking mental health treatment, while using alternative techniques.”
During the launch period of A New Healing, Dr. West will deliver information to the public via a new video series. The first of such videos explaining the genesis of A New Healing can be viewed here. Future show topics will include bullying, public-law enforcement interactions, mental health and the church, depression manifestations, and many other relevant topics.
Dr. West is committed to traveling the globe, bringing a shower of light to diverse audiences while promoting wellness, healing and spiritual independence. She is available to conduct training seminars and workshops in schools, state, local, and federal agencies, and profit and non-profit organizations. Dr. West also offers enlightening presentations to audiences in group/foster homes, judicial systems, and other rehabilitative and mental health facilities. Dr. West is described in the public sector as, “the one who can reach people.”
To book Dr. West, you may contact her at drwest@anewhealing.org or (832) 819-1099.
About Dr. Liz L. West
Liz L. West, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, CCBT, is a nationally certified, licensed professional counselor, as well as a certified cognitive behavior therapist. She is the founder of “A New Healing.” Dr. West is also a public speaker, author, researcher, adjunct professor, and spiritual care consultant who is described as “a distinguished, conscientious and energetic pioneer in the field of counseling.” She has over 12 years of experience in clinical psychological, behavioral and substance abuse disorders. She has more than six years of experience in disaster recovery, trauma, and crisis counseling. Dr. West is the chief executive officer of A Vision Indeed Counseling and Psychotherapy Inc., where she provides group and individual counseling, to clergy members, veterans, LGBTs, couples, families, adults, adolescents, and children. She also provides supported employment, court appearances and consulting. Dr. West currently serves as a licensed professional of the healing arts in the Houston area. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Phoenix where she has been teaching psychology for more than five years. Her latest research study, “African American Pastors and Mental Health Professionals: Referral Themes Identified Using Qualitative Research Methods,” was published in the Louisiana Journal of Counseling, fall 2013 edition.