I am an LCSW practicing in North Carolina. I graduated with honors from UNC-Chapel Hill and have experience in both non-profits and private practice supporting women and families experiencing IPV and abuse, assisting young adults through seniors experiencing life changes, guiding all ages through trauma healing, and helping all ages overcome general anxiety/depression. I have specialized trainings in both TF-CBT and EMDR, techniques used to reprocess traumatic experiences. I enjoy using creative approaches and experiential activities in support of client's growth, but also employ an analytical approach to overcome specific challenges. My special interests lay within preventing and overcoming burnout and traumatic experiences; including clarification of personal values, goals, and developing personal routines and lifestyles supportive of overall well-being.
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
The first session is all about introductions. I may ask a lot of questions, but you are in control of what you share. I don't have to know everything all at once- people are too complicated and it takes time to build an understanding, a trust, and good rapport. The goal of the first session is to get a general sense of who you are, some of your most significant experiences, and what concerns bring you to therapy. You are also encouraged to ask me questions about my approach, my perspectives, my experience and trainings. This is a time for us to meet and get a sense of how we may work together to accomplish your overall goals.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
I have a successful record of helping clients navigate major life changes and times of upheaval. Whether we are adjusting to the first job and first relationship or transitioning from the last, we may feel overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, and exhausted or simply stuck. I have helped clients alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, leave abusive relationships, adjust to separation/divorce, practice effective co-parenting, resolve childhood traumas, build effective coping skills, adjust to retirement, and reconsider work-life balance. Creativity is fundamental to my perspective and approach; I love to include arts-based and/or somatic work while remaining flexible and open to each client's individual needs.
About Lisa Carr
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Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
EMDR
EMDR is an effective approach to reprocessing and resolving emotional distress from past experiences. EMDR does not require clients to verbalize events and may be used even if there is no specific memory associated with the distress. I've used EMDR to help trauma survivors, people struggling with anxiety, and those seeking help to overcome unhelpful patterns originating in childhood. FLASH is another technique used to help clients resolve past experiences. Unlike EMDR, FLASH does not require people to experience long exposures to distressing emotions/memories. However, like EMDR, FLASH does not require clients to verbalize what happened to them and appears just as effective in reprocessing and resolving distressing emotions related to past or even recent experiences.
Strength-Based
Everyone has inherent strengths that can become a quick stabilizing force when life feels overwhelming and difficult. I work to help clients identify and explore these strengths, finding leverage to promote growth, affirm each individual's experiences, and support each client in reaching their unique goals.
Trauma Informed Care
Every individual follows their own path, at their own pace. I am here to support, not dictate. I will respect each client's boundaries, tolerances, and pace. Healing trauma is a process that can sometimes take longer than we expect; and sometimes healing trauma is not the client's primary goal. I focus on creating a safe and supportive space, listening for and prioritizing client needs, and take next steps one at a time.
Eclectic
As my focus has been on trauma-informed care and trauma treatment, I typically follow a phased approach regardless of the identified problem. Within the phases of any treatment plan, I frequently use activities and concepts from other modalities that fit the goals, such as: Psychoeducation to help develop mutual understanding and overall context for planning a course of action; CBT and DBT skills to help clarify patterns or habits, build stability, and offer new ways of doing things (communication skills, mindfulness practices, coping and/or relaxation techniques, visualizations, etc.); Arts-based activities and/or narrative approaches to help explore, identify, and reframe experiences; Somatic and/or Polyvagal activities to increase mind-body connection and calm the nervous system. I work with each client to determine what approaches feel right and are helpful, offering a flexible and playful approach to therapy. If there is a desire to delve more fully into any specific approach which is outside of my own practice, I support and assist in identifying other resources and therapists as I'm able. I am open to each client's feedback and work to develop an approach that is effective and easy if not enjoyable.