About My Practice
My practice focuses on personal growth and resilience after experiencing a death, loss or life transition. Healthy Directions offers traditional and holistic approaches to grief because even though we know that death and change is universal and inevitable in our lives, we experience the grief and other reactions uniquely. It is these reactions that can create difficulties in our mourning and coping with everyday life and relationships.
Elizabeth (Liz) Hides
Hello! My name is Elizabeth (Liz) Hides and I am a Holistic Grief and Loss Specialist, Registered Social Worker, Certified Thanatologist, Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher and Life Coach. I live and practice in Calgary, Alberta.
I came to this specialized work after having experienced many deaths, losses and difficult life transitions myself. Grief was very exhausting, confusing, and painful for me, but the one common element I encountered with each experience was 'Resilience', somehow I made it through each moment and was able to feel joy, happiness and gratitude again. I thought I would never feel anything but pain and suffering.
I have been helping Albertans and Canadians like you, navigate traumatic grief and loss experiences for over 24 years. I have a passion to help you identify the troublesome parts of grief and help you find your own 'Resilience' and 'Growth' so that you can feel joy and happiness again.
Death, loss and change are universal but how we grieve is UNIQUE. That's why I offer a combination of trauma-sensitive and informed traditional and holistic therapeutic approaches. Tailoring them to your immediate grief needs. Welcome.
I have extensive experience working with individuals, couples, families, and groups including workplaces, seniors and LGBTQ communties who are struggling with grief, loss, or a challenging life transition. My expertise is in grief and loss, particularly with people who have experienced a death by suicide, homicide, sudden death or other traumatic or complicated loss.
Professional Qualifications
- Masters of Social Work (Clinical Specialization)
- Registered Social Worker
- Certified Thanatologist with the Association of Death Education and Counselling (ADEC)
- Certified Mindfulness and Meditation Instructor with the McLean Meditation Institute
- Member of the ACSW Private Practice Committee and Roster
- Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist with the Canadian Federation of Clinical Hypnosis and the Wellness Institute
Therapeutic Offerings
Grief and other life events are such personal experiences that a one-size-fits-all therapy is not always helpful. Together we can develop the best fitting approach to best meet your needs. Complimentary therapeutic strategies alongside good ol' talk therapy include:
- Narrative Therapy
- Trauma-sensitive Mindfulness and Meditation Practices
- Reiki
- Clinical Hypnosis
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)