Liz Gustafson, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
Sometimes it can feel as if you have a tangled knot of thoughts and feelings inside your mind. I see the purpose of therapy as taking that knot, slowly untangling it together, and holding it up to the light so you can see your experience more clearly and feel some relief.
I work with adults who are often capable and accomplished on the outside, yet privately overwhelmed by anxiety, perfectionism, and the mental load of living with ADHD. My role is to help you understand what is happening beneath the surface and build a life that fits how your brain actually works.
You might be looking for help with…
ADHD & Executive Functioning
Getting started, following through, managing time, staying organized, or keeping up with everyday responsibilities.
Relationships & Emotional Patterns
Navigating conflict, setting boundaries, understanding recurring relationship patterns, or managing intense emotions.
Understanding Yourself
Making sense of neurodivergence, identity, past experiences, or why strategies that seem to work for other people haven’t worked for you.
Anxiety & Perfectionism
Overthinking, avoiding things that feel difficult, putting enormous pressure on yourself, or rarely feeling like you’ve done enough.
How I work
I want to understand who you are and how your experiences have shaped the way you see yourself and move through the world. Together, we use that understanding to help you feel better and more capable of making changes in your life.
In sessions, I ask questions that help us notice patterns you may be too close to see. We explore what is happening now, how you got here, and what keeps certain cycles going, including the expectations and beliefs you carry about yourself.
We also experiment with practical supports: ways to get started, realistic routines, and strategies for managing overwhelm. Some sessions focus on everyday challenges; others go deeper into relationships, perfectionism, anxiety, trauma, or identity. Often, we move between the two, paying attention to what helps and what feels sustainable.
My approach is collaborative, drawing on relational psychodynamic therapy, CBT, ACT, and DBT.
I am LGBTQIA+ affirming, neurodivergent affirming, sex positive, and welcoming to people of all backgrounds and identities.
My Experience
I have always been drawn to how people think, feel, and make sense of their lives. Before becoming a psychologist, I spent two years working at a suicide hotline, where sitting with people in crisis taught me the importance of listening carefully, asking thoughtful questions, and respecting the complexity of each person’s story.
I earned my PhD in Clinical Psychology at Long Island University in Brooklyn. My training included foster care, psychiatric hospitals, college counseling, and programs serving 9/11 first responders.
After graduate school, I spent nearly a decade building and leading a group practice in Los Angeles while working with adults navigating ADHD, AuDHD, anxiety, burnout, relationship stress, and major life transitions. Running a practice also gave me firsthand experience with the pressures of leadership, creative work, and making decisions when there is no obvious right answer.
I then returned to New York and co-founded Active Minds Psychology with Dr. Alisa Powers. Together, we’re building a practice that reflects our shared commitment to helping people feel understood and make changes that matter in their daily lives.
FAQ
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I approach ADHD from both an emotional and practical perspective. In addition to helping clients better understand how ADHD affects their relationships, self-image, stress levels, and daily functioning, I also focus on practical changes that can reduce overwhelm and improve day-to-day life.
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No. While ADHD is a major area of focus in my practice, I also work with adults navigating anxiety, depression, burnout, relationship difficulties, trauma, life transitions, and stress more broadly.
Many of my clients are AuDHDers (ADHD + autistic). Some people come to me knowing that about themselves. For others this comes up through exploration in sessions, particularly when issues related to masking, sensory overwhelm, burnout, social exhaustion, or chronic feelings of mismatch are present.
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I work with individuals, couples, and groups.
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No. While many of my clients have a formal ADHD diagnosis, others come to therapy because they suspect ADHD may be part of what they’re struggling with or because they relate to challenges like chronic overwhelm, difficulty following through, emotional reactivity, procrastination, burnout, or feeling constantly behind despite strong effort.
Therapy does not require certainty or a label to be useful. Part of the work may involve better understanding the patterns you’ve been experiencing and determining whether ADHD meaningfully fits into that picture.
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No. As a psychologist, I do not prescribe medication, but I can recommend medication providers, such as psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners.
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No. While medication can be extremely helpful for some people, there are plenty of reasons that people choose not to pursue that route and I am supportive of that.
Logistics
Session Length
45-minute individual and couples therapy
60-minute group therapy
Where Services Are Offered
In-person in New York
Virtual throughout New York, California, and Florida
Payment
Private pay only
Superbills available for health insurance reimbursement
Availability
Daytime availability
Licensed in New York (Lic. 27033) and California (Lic 29510). Registered as a telehealth provider in Florida (Reg. TPPY1117).
Curious Whether Our Approach Might Be a Good Fit?
Whether you're seeking support for yourself, your child, or your family, a complimentary 15-minute consultation call can help you learn more about our practice and explore possible next steps.