Licensed to practice in California and accepts 6 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Life Transitions and 10 more.
(she/her)
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.
One of the greatest privileges of my work is walking alongside people as they navigate life's challenges, discover their strengths, and move toward the goals that matter most to them. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by stress, working to build resilience, or striving to perform at your best, my role is to help you feel supported every step of the way.I believe meaningful growth begins with feeling safe, heard, and understood. My goal is to create a warm, nonjudgmental space where you can show up exactly as you are. Together, we'll explore what's getting in the way, build on your existing strengths, and develop practical tools to help you manage pressure, navigate life's inevitable ups and downs, and create meaningful, lasting change. I'm also deeply committed to providing culturally responsive care and honoring each person's unique experiences and identity. I strive to create an inclusive space where clients from all backgrounds feel respected, valued, and empowered to be their authentic selves. .
I love working with athletes and high-performing individuals from all walks of life. Whether you're a youth, collegiate, Olympic-hopeful, or professional athlete; the parent of an athlete; a coach; a first responder; an active-duty military member or veteran; a physician or healthcare provider; a C-suite executive or business leader; an actor, performer, artist, or musician; or someone striving to excel in a demanding career, I understand the unique pressures that come with high-performance environments. I also enjoy working with couples who want to strengthen their relationship while navigating the demands of careers, sport, parenting, or major life transitions. Together, we can build healthier communication, deepen connection, and create a stronger partnership. Many of my clients are driven, compassionate, and highly capable. They often hold themselves to incredibly high standards and are looking for a place where they can be authentic, reflect, and continue to grow. My role is to help you develop the mental and emotional skills needed to thrive—not only in your performance, but in every area of your life. Together, we'll focus on building confidence, resilience, motivation, self-awareness, and perspective. We'll have honest conversations, create meaningful goals, and develop practical strategies to help you navigate pressure, setbacks, burnout, and life's inevitable challenges. I believe confidence and resilience aren't traits you're born with—they're skills that can be developed through intention, practice, and self-compassion. If you're curious about yourself, open to learning, and ready to invest in your growth, I'd be honored to work with you. My hope is that you'll leave our work together feeling more connected to yourself, more confident in your abilities, and better equipped to show up fully—not just as an athlete or performer, but as a partner, parent, professional, teammate, leader, and person.
Other specialties
I identify as
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.
7 ratings with written reviews
October 30, 2025
Lisa was very professional while simultaneously being her authentic self. She was insightful and a pleasure to speak with!
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.