Elizabeth Polley, LMSW
Elizabeth is a gentle and validating therapist who works with adults 18 and up. She specializes in working with trauma, grief, and older adults. As a social worker, Elizabeth assesses each client’s strengths in addition to their challenges because clients’ strengths can often be leveraged to help them meet their goals. Elizabeth is trained to advocate for her clients and to conceptualize problems from a systemic lens. This means that she looks at clients in the context of their environments and strives to help each client attain a sense of inner and outer well-being. When clients leave sessions with Elizabeth, they are armed with both coping skills and concrete resource referrals.
Elizabeth earned a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Central Missouri and a Master of Social Work from Saint Louis University, with a concentration in clinical social work. Additionally, Elizabeth has completed 40 hours of EMDR Basic Training from Thrive Training and Publications. This training was specifically designed for clients with complex PTSD and grants Elizabeth access to specialized consultants in the areas of dissociation, attachment, pre-verbal trauma, grief, adultery, medical trauma, domestic and sexual violence, neurodivergence, the LGBTQIA+ community, somatic interventions, parts work, first responders, and the military.
While in school, Elizabeth completed two electives about working with older adults. During these courses, Elizabeth was trained to conduct life reviews. This evidence-based intervention helps older adults integrate their life experiences and achieve a sense of ego integrity. Elizabeth also received training in screening for cognitive decline and providing group Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) for clients with dementia. Elizabeth is currently in the process of furthering her knowledge of practicing CST with individuals so that she may offer CST to her clients at Rejuvenate.
On a personal level, Elizabeth is optimistic, creative, and always learning. While Elizabeth primarily practices EMDR and DBT, she draws inspiration from a wide variety of modalities, including IFS, Gestalt, narrative, and somatic therapies. With over three years of working in the field of domestic and sexual violence, Elizabeth is particularly passionate about relational trauma, women’s issues, and providing high-quality therapy to clients of all income levels. Elizabeth is affirming of all cultures and beliefs and seeks to promote peace of mind, body, and spirit.
To make an appointment with Elizabeth Polley, please contact us at 816-761-3944 or info@rejuvenatekc.com