Healing Begins
When You Feel Seen
Compassionate therapy for queer identities, neurodivergent folks, and those seeking answers to life's existential questions.
Photo credit: Paul Kozal
Start your journey toward a deeper connection with yourself. I’m here to help you move past the noise of what everyone else thinks, and into a life that's genuinely yours.
Embrace Your Authentic Self
Cultivate Self-Empowerment
Turn your worries into your power. I’m by your side to help you find your inner strength and trust yourself, unlocking the wisdom and abilities you've had all along.
Rooted in social justice and Socially Engaged Buddhism, I offer a safe space for meaningful connections—with yourself and the wider world—leading you towards a life rich in wisdom and guided by your deepest values.
Connect with Something Deeper
The quest for authenticity
In a world that often demands conformity and adherence to societal norms, many find ourselves wearing masks that hide who we really are. The pressure from family, society, or even our own doubts can make us feel lost, living a life that doesn’t feel fully ours. This can leave us feeling anxious, uncertain, and longing for a deeper connection with our true selves.
Many of us start asking big questions like, "Who am I, really?" and "What is my place in the world?" These questions become even more pressing for those who feel marginalized or misunderstood by mainstream narratives—particularly the queer, gifted & neurodivergent communities. The struggle is not just with the external world but also an internal battle with identity, self-doubt, and the search for purpose.
Finding our true selves isn’t easy, especially when what we’ve tried before might leave us feeling more alone. There’s a real need for a safe place to explore who we are—a place that’s welcoming and understanding, where we can be supported as we seek a life that feels authentic and fulfilling.
I help you find peace in your authentic self, so you can live fully without doubt or disguise.
Navigating life feeling out of touch with your true self, burdened by existential doubts, and wearing masks to fit in can make every day feel like an uphill battle. Especially for those in the gifted, queer and neurodivergent communities, these challenges can compound, leading to overwhelming anxiety and a deep yearning for genuine connection and understanding.
I see you, and I'm here to offer relief. Drawing on years of expertise in Existential-Humanistic and Buddhist Psychology, I provide a compassionate and supportive space for you to explore and embrace your authentic self. Whether you're grappling with identity questions, societal expectations, or the desire to live without masks, my approach is designed to guide you toward clarity, self-acceptance, and empowerment.
Consider me a partner in your journey to shed the weight of doubt and disguise. Together, we'll navigate your path to authenticity, freeing you to experience the richness of life as your true self, unburdened and unmasked.
My Offerings
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Couples' Therapy
Strengthen your connection through improved communication and understanding of each other's core wounds, transforming conflicts into teamwork within a compassionate, trauma-informed framework.
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Individual Therapy
Explore self-discovery and gain clarity on your life's direction, addressing everything from trauma healing to existential questions to neurodivergence, all within a supportive, understanding space.
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Supervision & Consultation
Benefit from experienced guidance in your clinical practice, fostering safety, empathy, and authenticity in a supportive relationship.
How to Begin
Reach out with an email
Drop me an email to share a little about yourself—whatever you’re comfortable with.
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Schedule Your Consult
I’ll get in touch to arrange a chat at a time that suits you. This initial consultation is our chance to connect, to feel out if we’re the right fit, and to envision how we might work together. There’s no commitment here, just an open door.
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Start the Journey
If you feel that this is the path for you, we’ll schedule our first session and start the therapy journey. It’s a path we’ll walk at your pace, exploring and growing with every step.
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Meet Dr. Liz A. Caine
California Licensed Psychologist PSY27477
Dr. Liz A. Caine's path, both personally and professionally, is marked by intellectual curiosity, empathy, and a devotion to understanding the complexities of human life. With a keen mind and a nurturing spirit, Liz has focused their clinical psychology practice on engaging meaningfully with a wide array of human experiences, giving particular attention to the gifted, neurodivergent and queer communities. Dr. Caine is licensed to practice psychology in the state of California.
At the heart of Liz's methodology lies a fusion of existential humanism and Contemplative Psychology—philosophies that not only mold their worldview but also influence their therapeutic approach. This combination provides them with the means to delve into existential queries, including concerns about mortality, a central topic of their dissertation. Liz’s practice is marked by an openness to confronting what's intense and uncomfortable, guiding clients on their personal paths of self-discovery and learning to navigate discomfort.
Dr. Caine's foundation in Quakerism has imbued them with a lifelong pursuit of spirituality and social justice, a pursuit enriched by their education in Quaker institutions and a year of service with Americorps in Philadelphia, applying these principles in meaningful, impactful ways.
Liz’s global outlook, augmented by travels and studies through the Friends World Program (now Global College at LIU), enhances Dr. Caine's ability to connect empathetically with people from various cultures and life paths. more >>
FAQs
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Existential-Humanism and Buddhist Psychology are foundational to my approach, guiding how I connect with and support you.
Existential-Humanism emphasizes themes like freedom and responsibility, intentionality, self-reflection, and meaning-making. It encourages us to live more intentionally, fostering self-awareness and a deep sense of purpose in our lives.
Buddhist Psychology complements this by emphasizing the importance of being present in our lives, nurturing compassion and self-compassion, and cultivating wisdom and insight. Both philosophies advocate for living in the moment, enhancing our connections with others, and leading a life filled with intention and purpose.
Together, these frameworks shape my practice, allowing me to help you explore deeper connections, live more purposefully, and approach life's challenges with compassion and insight.
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Absolutely not. My practice is inclusive, welcoming individuals from all spiritual backgrounds, including those without any particular spiritual beliefs. My goal is to help you connect with what truly holds meaning for you and, if it's part of your journey, to deepen your connection with your own faith tradition. This approach stems from the transpersonal aspect of my training, allowing me to integrate spirituality into our work in a way that's relevant and enriching for you.
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My practice welcomes everyone seeking to live more authentically and purposefully. I've found that healers, teachers, and activists especially resonate with my approach, as they look for ways to sustain their commitment to others while nurturing their own wellbeing.
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Being 'gifted' often extends beyond high academic achievement or intellectual prowess; it encompasses a depth of thought, intense curiosity, and heightened emotional sensitivity. If you find yourself deeply reflecting on life's purposes, feeling more intensely, or seeking connections that go beyond the surface, you might be experiencing aspects of giftedness without even realizing it. Many caring and introspective individuals don't recognize these traits as signs of giftedness.
In my practice, we explore these dimensions, helping you to understand and value your unique perspectives and how they contribute to a richer, more meaningful life. Whether you've always known you're gifted or are just beginning to connect the dots, our journey together can provide clarity and fulfillment.
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Yes, I currently supervise doctoral psychology practicum trainees at the Cancer Support Community in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I guide emerging professionals through their clinical practice, emphasizing compassion, ethical practice, and the integration of existential-humanistic principles.
