Elizabeth

Ms Elizabeth Berlasso

Licensed Mental Health Counselor

Retired with over 25 years of experience working in the private healthcare sector, now in private practice specifically working with renegotiating the impact of trauma: PTSD, Complex trauma, developmental trauma, depression/anxiety disorders, chronic illness, bipolar/borderline profiles, stress management.

About Me

With over 25 years of experience, this practice offers a dedicated space to renegotiate the lasting impact of trauma. Individuals navigating PTSD, complex, or developmental trauma find support here. The work also extends to related challenges like depression, anxiety, chronic illness, and stress management. Sessions help understand how past experiences shape present well-being, offering a path towards greater stability. Clients seeking an experienced, thoughtful approach to profound personal struggles will find dedicated guidance.

Approach

Working from decades in private healthcare, I guide steady, paced exploration of how difficult events continue to shape daily life, using gentle tracking of body sensations, short practical practices, and clear safety steps to make change manageable. Sessions in Halifax or by secure online appointments in English move between focused skill-building, crisis-focused support when needed, and reflective work that ties patterns to present choices; I often suggest brief between-session experiments to test new responses. People seeking steady, pragmatic renegotiation of traumatic impact tend to find this approach helpful.
Contact Elizabeth

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Services


Services Offered:

  • Advocacy

    Services that help individuals navigate healthcare, education, or social systems to ensure their mental health needs are recognised and met.

    Learn more about Advocacy
  • Crisis Counseling

    Immediate, short-term psychological support during an acute mental health crisis such as a panic episode, suicidal thoughts, or overwhelming distress.

  • Divorce Counseling

    Counselling for individuals or couples going through separation or divorce, addressing the emotional, practical, and relational dimensions.

  • Trauma Counseling

    Counselling specifically for people affected by traumatic events, focused on processing what happened and reducing symptoms like flashbacks and hypervigilance.

    Learn more about Trauma Counseling
  • Mindfulness

    The practice of paying deliberate attention to the present moment without judgement, used to reduce stress and increase awareness of automatic reactions.

    Learn more about Mindfulness
  • Online Therapy

    Therapy sessions conducted over video call, phone, or secure messaging, using the same professional methods delivered remotely.

    Learn more about Online Therapy
  • Individual Therapy

    One-on-one therapy sessions between a client and a therapist, focused on that person's specific concerns and goals.

    Learn more about Individual Therapy
  • Stress Management

    Techniques and strategies for managing the body and mind's response to excessive demands, including relaxation, cognitive restructuring, and lifestyle changes.

    Learn more about Stress Management
  • Supervision

    Professional oversight for therapists and counsellors, providing guidance, ethical support, and reflective space for their clinical work.

    Learn more about Supervision

Works With:

  • Adolescents
  • Adults
  • Elderly
  • Individuals
  • Parents

Area of Expertise


Scope of Practice:

  • Abuse

    Emotional, physical, or sexual mistreatment by another person that causes lasting psychological harm and disrupts a person's sense of safety.

  • Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • Stress / Burnout

    The body and mind's response to prolonged or excessive demands. When sustained, it can lead to emotional exhaustion, detachment, and reduced functioning (burnout).

    Learn more about Stress / Burnout
  • Mood Disorder

    A category of mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder, in which a person's emotional state is significantly and persistently disrupted.

    Learn more about Mood Disorder
  • Divorce Counseling

    Counselling for individuals or couples going through separation or divorce, addressing the emotional, practical, and relational dimensions.

  • Trauma Therapy

    Therapeutic approaches specifically designed to help people process and recover from traumatic experiences.

    Learn more about Trauma Therapy

Professional Title:

  • Licensed Mental Health Counselor

    A counselor licensed to provide mental health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

Qualifications


Acadia University

Registrations


Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association; NS College of Counseling Therapists

Registered Therapist

Service Area


Alaya Counselling Associates

In-person & Online

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Canada