Lisa Duncan
Do you ever find yourself wondering, “Why am I not myself anymore?” You may look like you’re holding everything together on the outside while feeling completely different on the inside. Maybe you overthink conversations, second-guess yourself, feel anxious all the time, or live in survival mode. This can happen after unhealthy relationships, especially when there has been manipulation, control, constant criticism, or emotional invalidation. Over time, those experiences can affect how you see yourself, your decisions, and your ability to trust your own instincts. Sometimes you just need to talk to someone who understands how complicated these relationships can be—because it can feel like nobody else understands the struggle. My name is Lisa Duncan, LCSW, and I do. I have a particular interest in helping people recover from emotionally unhealthy, manipulative, or abusive relationships, including experiences commonly described as narcissistic abuse. Let's figure out what *you* actually want and need. I also work with anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, and major life changes. My approach is empathetic, practical, and collaborative. Therapy with me is a conversation. We’ll talk about what’s happening, look for patterns, make connections, and sometimes challenge the way you’re looking at a situation. I’ll give you tools and strategies you can actually use in your everyday life. I use CBT, strengths-based, solution-focused, person-centered, and trauma-informed approaches, but I don’t believe therapy should feel like following a script. We can work on understanding why you responded the way you did, recognizing patterns that may have developed as a way of coping, rebuilding trust in yourself, and learning how to set boundaries without feeling guilty or constantly wondering if you’re doing something wrong. You don’t have to come to therapy knowing exactly what you need. You may just know that something isn’t working anymore. That’s enough to start.
First session
Your first session is a chance for us to get to know each other and talk about what brought you to therapy. We’ll explore what’s been happening, what you’d like to change, and what you hope to gain from therapy. There’s no pressure to have everything figured out. We’ll start where you are and work together to create a plan that feels right for you.
Strengths
I bring warmth, empathy, authenticity, and a direct, down-to-earth approach to therapy. I’m an active therapist, so you can expect conversation, feedback, questions, and gentle challenges rather than simply having someone listen and nod. I’ll help you recognize patterns, make connections, build on your strengths, and develop practical strategies you can use in everyday life. My goal is for you to feel supported while also helping you move toward meaningful change.
Ideal clients
My ideal client may look like they’re managing life just fine while internally feeling overwhelmed, anxious, stuck, or unsure of themselves. They may find themselves replaying conversations, questioning their judgment, struggling to set boundaries, or wondering why they keep responding to situations in ways that don’t feel like them. Many of my clients have experienced emotionally unhealthy relationships involving manipulation, chronic invalidation, gaslighting, controlling behavior, emotional abuse, or what is often described as narcissistic abuse. Others are navigating anxiety, ADHD, self-esteem concerns, or major life changes. They want more than a place to vent—they’re ready to understand their patterns, rebuild confidence, develop practical tools, and make meaningful changes in their lives.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT to help you understand the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Together, we look at patterns that may be making things harder for you, such as overthinking, worrying, avoiding things, seeking reassurance, or being overly critical of yourself. We work on noticing these patterns and finding more helpful ways to respond. This may include looking at whether your thoughts are based on facts or fear, learning ways to manage difficult emotions, changing behaviors that keep anxiety or other concerns going, and practicing new skills between sessions. The goal isn't to force you to think positively or tell you that your feelings aren't valid. Instead, CBT helps you develop a more balanced way of looking at situations so you can make choices based on what matters to you rather than automatically reacting to anxiety, fear, or negative thoughts.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
I use CPT to help you work through the thoughts and beliefs that can develop after a traumatic experience. Trauma can sometimes change the way you see yourself, other people, or the world, and those beliefs can continue to affect you long after the event has ended. Together, we identify thoughts that may be keeping you stuck and examine whether they are still serving you today. The goal is not to erase what happened or tell you to "just move on." Instead, we work toward understanding what happened, reducing the impact it has on your present life, and developing a healthier and more balanced perspective.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use DBT to help you better understand and manage intense emotions, stress, and difficult situations. We focus on practical skills that can help you slow down before reacting, tolerate uncomfortable feelings, communicate more effectively, and handle conflict or difficult relationships. DBT can be especially helpful when emotions feel overwhelming or when you find yourself reacting in ways that you later regret. We work on skills you can use in everyday life to feel more in control of your responses while still recognizing and accepting how you feel.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I use solution-focused therapy to help you identify what you want to change and focus on practical steps toward getting there. Rather than spending every session focused on what is going wrong, we also look at what is already working, your strengths, and times when you've been able to handle difficult situations successfully. Together, we identify realistic goals and small changes that can make a difference in your everyday life. This approach can help you move from feeling stuck to identifying what you can do next.
Trauma Informed Care
I use a trauma-informed approach by considering how past experiences may affect the way you think, feel, behave, and relate to others today. We focus on creating a sense of safety and control in therapy and move at a pace that feels appropriate for you. Rather than judging your reactions or asking, "What's wrong with you?" we look at what may have happened to you and how you learned to cope with it. Therapy can help you understand these patterns, develop healthier ways of coping, strengthen boundaries, and feel more in control of your life.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
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Licensed in
- New JerseyLicense 44SC06684500