Hi! My name is Lisa. I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in California. I received my Masters from Smith College School for Social Work and have been practicing for over 25 years. I am also a Certified Mental Performance Consultant®, earned through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. As a dually trained practitioner, I'm in a great position to help athletes at all levels, learn to cope and ultimately thrive, with their various responsibilities, in and out of their sport. I have come to learn that empowering athletes, coaches, parents of athletes, and spouses of athletes feel equipped to show up fully to themselves and their relationships, is my purpose. I am deeply moved to work with other high performing people who are often in high demand, high stress environments: first responders, military personnel, actors, executives, to name a few. I would love the opportunity get to know you, your story, and what your goals are. Make an appointment and let's get started.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
The first session is all about getting to know each other, understanding what brings you here, and starting to figure out how we can work together to help you reach your goals—whether they’re performance-related or personal. It’s a chance for me to learn about you and your sport/high performing environment, and for you to ask questions or share anything that’s on your mind. We’ll start by talking about why you decided to come in. Maybe you’re facing some challenges in your sport, like performance anxiety, focus issues, or maybe you’ve been dealing with stress or a recent injury. Or dealing with a situation at home, work, school, or in a relationship. Whatever it is, I’m here to listen and support you. I want to understand what you’re going through and what you’d like to work on. This might be about improving mental skills, managing pressure, building confidence, or dealing with something outside of sport , like your relationships, job, or school. I’ll also ask about your background—how long you’ve been in your competitive environment, any mental or emotional hurdles you’ve faced in the past, and what kinds of strategies or tools you’ve tried so far. I want to learn about what aspects of your identities and experiences have shaped you thus far. I know we wont get to everything. But what you do share will help me get a better sense of where you're at and where we can start. I may introduce you to a tool like journaling, meditation, goal setting, or how to manage stress. But we'll feel it out together about what could make sense. We’ll also talk about what the next steps will look like. If we continue working together, we’ll have regular sessions where we dive deeper, build on your strengths, and figure out what works best for you. Finally, I want you to know that this is a process. It takes time, but I’ll be here to support you every step of the way. It’s totally normal to feel nervous or unsure at first—that’s part of the process! The most important thing is that you feel comfortable and open to working together on things that matter to you.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
My work with athletes, coaches, parents of athletes, spouses of athletes, and high performers is what I enjoy the most and where I have found the most success. I have worked with elite high school athletes, collegiate athletes, cirque du Soleil performers, actors/actresses, Olympic-hopefuls, and professional athletes. I I am listed in the National Football League Player Association's Clinician's Directory and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee's Mental Health and Mental Performance Registry. I am the first ever Mental Performance Coach at the Oakland Roots SC, working with their men's professional soccer first team. My lived experience as a former competitive athlete and a parent to a rising collegiate student athlete, intersects well with my training and experience.
Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.
I love working with athletes, at all levels, and high performing individuals. My clients are learning to respect and focus on their journey, while keeping their outcomes in proper perspective. They are self-aware, driven to succeed (defining success on their own terms), open to learning, and willing to tackle both psychological and performance-related issues. They value their mental health as much as their physical abilities and are committed to personal growth, both as athletes and individuals. It would be my privilege to work with someone who is: 1. self-aware 2. willing to have the "hard' conversations 3. is open to creating clear goals for their sport and their lives 4. growing in their understanding that confidence and motivation are mental skills that can be developed and the willingness to put in the work to do so 5. able to recognize that burn out is real and how it could look in their lives 6. open to developing a growth mindset 7. eager to learn about themselves as an athlete, as well as the other identities and roles they have
About Lisa Bonta Sumii, LCSW, CMPC
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, goal-oriented therapeutic approach that helps individuals identify and challenge unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. I use CBT methods such as journaling, implementing mindfulness techniques, and creating positive self statements, to name a few.
Attachment-based
Attachment-based approaches in therapy focus on understanding the ways in which early attachment experiences (with primary caregivers) shape a person’s relationships, emotional regulation, and sense of self. I explore these early attachments and how they influence current relationships. I believe the relationship between client and therapist is an amazing opportunity to experience a safe, consistent, and reliable attachment. We can focus on ways to regulate emotions with grounding techniques, breath work, and how we hold emotions in our bodies.
Culturally Sensitive Therapy
Culturally sensitive therapy involves recognizing and respecting the cultural backgrounds, values, and experiences of clients in the therapeutic process. It emphasizes the importance of cultural competence—understanding the influence of culture on an individual’s identity, worldview, and mental health. I use this approach in learning the full human being that I have the honor to be working with. As a BIPOC identified therapist, I recognize that everyone shows up differently to their race, ethnicity, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other identities. I encourage an open sharing and exploration of how these cultural components feel at any given time. Understanding the emotional labor it may take to show up fully from time to time.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
In my practice, I use Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to help clients focus on their strengths and solutions. I work with clients to identify times when they have successfully coped with challenges and build on those past successes. Through questions like, "What’s working well?" or "What would be different if things improved?", I encourage clients to envision their preferred future and take practical steps toward it. SFBT allows me to guide clients in discovering their own resources and developing concrete, achievable goals. Ultimately, it’s about helping them find solutions that bring lasting change in a brief and effective way.
Motivational Interviewing
In my practice, I use Motivational Interviewing (MI) to help clients explore and resolve ambivalence about change. I create a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel heard and understood, guiding them to recognize their own motivations and strengths. Through open-ended questions, reflective listening, and affirmations, I help clients articulate their goals and identify obstacles, empowering them to take ownership of their progress. MI allows me to collaborate with clients, ensuring that any change they choose to make is meaningful and sustainable. Ultimately, it's about supporting clients in finding their own path toward growth and transformation.