Meet Elizabeth Cruger, MA LPC, Coplin’s Newest Behavioral Health Provider

Liz Cruger, MA LPC

What drove you to choose this career path?

I have a fascination with how our mind and body are connected, and how we can function at our best levels, even in the face of stress. Stress is inevitable, but how we manage it can have an impact on our daily experiences and general wellness.

Explain activities you do beyond what most people see?

When I’m not with clients, I am working to understand the resources and workings of West Virginia healthcare, to make sure I can be a part of getting every client the services they need to be most successful.

If you could give one piece of health advice, what would it be?

Self-care is essential. We can prevent and manage a variety of illnesses, stressors, and distress by showing the same care and compassion to ourselves as we show to others.

What misconceptions people often have about your job?

Popular culture can often portray counselors as cold, out of touch, and here to break you down and tell you all the things that are wrong with you. I am here first and foremost to listen, offer support, and to find what’s going well and help develop those strengths and use them to make improvements in other areas.

What is the most enjoyable part of your job?

My favorite part of counseling work are the small moments where I can offer support to others, and the times when a client’s hard work shows up as success and improved wellness.

When not at Coplin, what do you enjoy doing?

I enjoy reading, playing board games, and getting to know the Parkersburg area since I am new here. I also have a growing collection of power tools, and I am learning to build things, one crooked table at a time.

What community or volunteer activities do you participate in?    

I have previously been involved in mobile disaster crisis outreach teams near Pittsburgh, and I am looking for new community involvement activities in my new home here in Parkersburg.