Elizabeth "Betsy" Conlan, LCSW

When your life looks good on paper, it is easy to fall into a trap of self-judgment. You might tell yourself, "I have no right to feel this way," or "I should be happier." But that internal struggle is real, and it is trying to tell you something important.

The fact that you are struggling despite your success isn't a failure—it's a sign that the old survival strategies and adaptations that got you this far are no longer serving who you are today. You don't have to figure it out alone, and you don't have to keep carrying the exhaustion of performing a perfect life. I see therapy as a collaborative, non-judgmental space where you can safely drop the armor, understand your unique blueprint, and finally find relief.

Whether you're shifting into new professional or personal chapters - college, career development, becoming a parent, adjusting to an empty nest, stepping into retirement, grieving a loved one, or dealing with a life altering illness - these transitions can bring unexpected emotional waves. 

We can work together to navigate these shifts with compassion, helping you process the emotional waves, ground yourself in your new reality, and build a meaningful path forward.

Therapy can help you understand how you relate to the people in your life, including the patterns set early on that may no longer serve you. 

Our work is entirely collaborative: together, we will look at what is working, what is not, and what you want to change.

Maybe you process information, sensory inputs, or emotions in a way that feels distinct from the norm. Often, people who think differently spend a lifetime trying to fit into a neurotypical mold, which leads to deep exhaustion.

I view neurodiversity not as a disorder to be fixed, but as a unique blueprint to be understood. If you are navigating the world as a neurodivergent individual—or suspect you might be—therapy can be a collaborative space to honor your unique strengths, manage your energy, and find strategies that actually align with how your brain works.

Receiving a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, Dementia or another progressive illness changes everything in an instant—not just for the person diagnosed, but for the entire family. 

Backed by seven years of specialized clinical experience at the Stanford Neuroscience Health Center, I provide a steady, compassionate, and highly informed space to help you navigate the profound emotional, practical, and existential shifts that follow.

For the Individual Holding the Diagnosis

A life-altering medical diagnosis often triggers an unspoken identity crisis. Together, we can work on processing grief, navigating identity shifts, managing anxiety and uncertainty, and exploring the deep, big questions about life, legacy, and autonomy with dignity and profound respect.

For the Care Partner & Family

Caregiving is an act of profound love, but it is also one of the most emotionally and physically taxing roles a person can experience. Together, we can work on alleviating caregiver burnout, managing compassion fatigue, guilt and anticipatory grief, navigating changing dynamics within your relationship, and establishing sustainable boundaries so you don't have to carry the weight alone.