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Elizabeth Young

About

Elizabeth Young is a writer, professor, and therapist. Her credentials include a PhD in English literature and a Master’s in Social Work. She has had two careers: first as a tenured professor in the Department of English at California State University, Long Beach, and then as a psychotherapist and adjunct faculty member in an MSW program. She has published academic essays in both fields, as well as poetry, and is currently writing a book called Growth in Grief: Stories of Transformation in Loss. In "Adaptations," identifying information has been changed to preserve confidentiality.

Recent Posts
Suffering Can Be a Meaningful Part of Life

He is too locked by ALS to wipe his eyes. As I do it for him, I don’t feel awkward or shy; we’re in that zone people achieve as they move toward death: bare, and unafraid.

He is too locked by ALS to wipe his eyes. As I do it for him, I don’t feel awkward or shy; we’re in that zone people achieve as they move toward death: bare, and unafraid.

What If You Don't Do the Things that Matter Most to You?

Why do I get waylaid time after time? Knowing the benefits of doing the thing I love most, why don’t I just keep on doing it every day?

Why do I get waylaid time after time? Knowing the benefits of doing the thing I love most, why don’t I just keep on doing it every day?

Like Flies to Heroin

I want him to be able to tell me what he’s done; Joe has enough shame to last a hundred lifetimes. He resumes his story, “I get out my rig, heat the junk."

I want him to be able to tell me what he’s done; Joe has enough shame to last a hundred lifetimes. He resumes his story, “I get out my rig, heat the junk."

Reframing Changes in Life

“I can’t believe I closed that door in my life,” I say, finally letting the doubt, fear, grief, and frustration pour out of me as my tears fall.

“I can’t believe I closed that door in my life,” I say, finally letting the doubt, fear, grief, and frustration pour out of me as my tears fall.

The Isolation of Catastrophic Thinking

But I am deeply rattled by the pattern of catastrophic connections my mind has been forming: the what-ifs are harder to fend off these days.

But I am deeply rattled by the pattern of catastrophic connections my mind has been forming: the what-ifs are harder to fend off these days.

Choosing a Story of Love

Her voice is tense, the threatening loss of the story signifying abandonment of the baby. If she holds on to the pain, the baby won’t be gone.

Her voice is tense, the threatening loss of the story signifying abandonment of the baby. If she holds on to the pain, the baby won’t be gone.

Paper Napkins, Lipstick, and the Occasional Donut

I soak up the bright array of color and shape, maybe buy something small like a pack of fancy paper napkins, and then feel able to return to my cat in my husbandless apartment.

I soak up the bright array of color and shape, maybe buy something small like a pack of fancy paper napkins, and then feel able to return to my cat in my husbandless apartment.

Poker and the Art of Aging

All of us will need help at some point. Eyes, bones, hearts, and oh, yes, prostates, become human vulnerabilities with age.

All of us will need help at some point. Eyes, bones, hearts, and oh, yes, prostates, become human vulnerabilities with age.

Goals, Girls and Gratitude

I notice the tension in the girls' body language and laughter—and feel so glad to not be in adolescence anymore.

I notice the tension in the girls' body language and laughter—and feel so glad to not be in adolescence anymore.