Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Houston?
I grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I moved to Texas to attend my alma mater, Texas Tech University, and decided I needed to stay in the warm weather! A job led me to Houston in 2012 and I have been here ever since.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
My daughter Amalea will be two in February and baby number 2 will arrive in April 2020!
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I LOVE to travel and experience different cultures. So far I have been to every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Australia is still on my bucket list, but I think I endured enough cold growing up in Minnesota that I am ok with leaving Antarctica off the list.
I am also in the final stages of earning my Ph.D. in Integrative Medicine and I am certified in clinical hypnosis.
Favorite local activities to do in Houston?
I love to go to Urban Harvest Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings and Levy Park with my family.
Do you have a favorite family-friendly restaurant in the area?
Bella Green!
What local places do you go to for pampering and/or mom’s night out?
Cloud 9 Foot Spa and Nobie’s for a great cocktail and delicious food.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I am a psychotherapist and owner of Elizabeth Miller Therapy. Elizabeth Miller Therapy was born after years of working in different psychiatric settings where people, particularly women, did not seem to be getting the attention and help that they deserved. I saw countless people suffering from not only mental health issues, but other health issues and I wanted to create a space where people could receive psychotherapy and focus on whole-body healing. I found that many mental health facilities lacked warmth and rarely focused on the mind-body connection. Elizabeth Miller Therapy aims to change that by offering clients a mind-body approach to natural healing by merging modern psychotherapy and neuroscience with ancient healing traditions and practices. I specialize in compassion-focused trauma recovery, women’s health, and chronic illness.
I am also the Director of Community Outreach for the Center for Creative Resources; a non-profit focused on giving back to the community by offering low-cost psychotherapy to those in need.
In addition, I manage Houston Wellness Warriors, which is a group of integrative wellness practitioners aimed to connect functional medicine providers and provide training opportunities to clinicians in our area. I am an active member of the American Society for Clinical Hypnosis, Society for Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis and the International Society for Hypnosis.
How has the Houston community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
Houston has been so welcoming to me. I believe part of the charm is that many Houstonians have moved here, just like I did, without knowing many people which creates a welcoming environment. People move from all over the world to be in Houston, which makes it such a diverse and unique place to live. I have a thriving practice because people have supported me along the way and have continued to refer to me. I do my best to be just as welcoming to newcomers and support other small businesses’ in the area.
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc)?
Schedule time for the things that matter to you! Being a mom, wife and business owner has its challenges and can be overwhelming at times but I believe the key to juggling it all is scheduling time for the things that are meaningful to you. I personally schedule time each week for self-care and time with family and friends. For me, self-care looks like going to a pilates class, taking a long walk and cooking with my family.
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?
I would tell myself, “You do not have to do it all right now”! I put so much pressure on myself to have my life “fully put together” before I had kids. Looking back, I wish I could have fully understood that no one really has it all together before they have kids and that life is an ever-changing, dynamic journey that requires a heavy dose of self-compassion and flexibility.
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
I have my kiddo help me cook. It is a mess 100% of the time but it keeps her entertained while I meal prep. I call that a win!