Education and Experience
Liah is a licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT) in New York City and a registered Drama Therapist (RDT). She holds a BFA in Drama and an MA in Drama Therapy from New York University. Liah has a Level I certification in Developmental Transformations drama therapy from the Institute for the Arts in Psychotherapy. She has worked as a drama therapist in varied settings helping individuals with eating disorders, veterans struggling with complex PTSD, adults and children in an acute psychiatric medical center, elderly nursing home residents, and young people with both visual impairment and developmental disabilities.
Eating Disorders
Liah has specialized expertise in the treatment of eating disorders and body image issues. Liah is a HAES® (Health At Every Size®) aligned helping professional committed to promoting safety, respect and access to health care services for people of all backgrounds, sizes and shapes. She is a Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and a Certified Body Trust® Specialist. Body Trust® is a weight inclusive pathway to healing the relationship to food and body. Liah worked as a lead therapist and coordinator of the Day Treatment Program at Balance Eating Disorder Treatment Center; she has guided individuals of all backgrounds and ages towards increased acceptance of their bodies and flexible and attuned eating habits. As a drama therapist, Liah believes in the healing power of spontaneity, self expression, and creativity in fostering mind-body integration and overall wellness.
Background
As a student in conservatory training for theater, Liah was troubled by the preoccupation in the industry with body weight, shape and size causing chronic stress and anguish about body image. Observing the pain of artists motivated Liah to return to the roots of theater, ritual and healing, to support and enhance artists’ and individuals’ creativity, power, and physical bodies.