LCSW, 25 years of experience
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, former athletes, and high achievers, learn to cope and ultimately thrive, with their various responsibilities, in and out of their highly demanding environment. I have come to learn that empowering individuals to feel equipped to show up fully to themselves and their relationships, is my purpose.
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.
My strengths are helping the individuals I have the privilege to work, with navigate stress, build resilience, and reach their goals. I create a safe, non-judgmental space where you can share openly and feel understood. I use practical, strength-based approaches to help you recognize your own motivations, manage pressure, and make meaningful changes. I also bring cultural awareness and a commitment to social justice, supporting clients from diverse backgrounds in exploring their experiences and building confidence.
I love working with athletes, at all levels, and high performing individuals. If you are a youth athlete, collegiate athlete, pro athlete, parent of an athlete, C-Suite executive, fire fighter, active in the military, actor, police officer, I would be honored to work with you! 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, high performing environment, 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, high performer, as well as the other identities and roles they have
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 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 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.
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.
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.
6 ratings with written reviews
May 21, 2025
Lisa is very understanding and encouraging and makes me feel proud of myself.
May 9, 2025
I love that she gave me simple, small tools that I can realistically use to get started and feel a little more mentally and emotionally regulated right away. Lisa seems understanding and encouraging.
March 28, 2025
It was a great first session. I'm looking forward to working with Lisa.