Elizabeth Preston attended Ohio State University and Chicago's College of Education and obtained her Master's Degree in Theories of Learning and Behavior at National Lewis University in Chicago, with coursework also at the Claremont Graduate School. After a career in teaching at the elementary level (and raising three delightful children along the way) she retired in 2001 to concentrate on her second career, as an artist, having studied art since 1972 under a variety of well known painters. She opened her own art studio in 1994. A chance encounter with an art therapy session spurred her interest and started her third career, as a counselor who helps people move toward healthier lives.

As well as painting and teaching art, "Elizabeth's Art Studio" is also her home base for holding workshops in an art therapy-based counseling method created by Dr. Lucia Capacchione, an internationally known psychologist, licensed art therapist and author. Elizabeth was trained and certified under Dr. Capacchione in 2003.

Elizabeth has 22 years experience teaching and counseling adults and children who have ADD, ADHD, Autism and Asperger syndromes, mainly in developing communication and social skills, in both the educational and private counseling areas. She lives with her husband and business partner Robert in Mt. Baldy Village in the San Gabriel Mountains.

Elizabeth describes how she made a conscious choice to reinvent herself and transition into her work with "Expressive Arts Therapy" and Creative Journaling - a sort of brain balancing. She speaks about the increasing number of people who are turning to and becoming chemically dependent. And she discusses her work with Mental Health Professionals and her healing techniques used with cancer sufferers and related support groups.

In a 'nutshell,' Elizabeth speaks passionately about her Creative Journaling work/process and how it allows participants to be honest, open, and to embrace life. Her contact information is provided on the Awakening to Awareness web site.