Lisa is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Board Certified Counselor who has more than ten years of experience specializing in working with children, teens, and families in private, public, and charter schools in metro Atlanta. She encompasses a unique perspective stemming from her years as a teacher, school counselor, and school-based therapist providing a proactive approach to wellness. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Mississippi, Master of Arts in Teaching in Early Childhood Education from Reinhardt University, and Master of Science in School Counseling from Mercer University.

Lisa is well versed in working with families from different backgrounds and clients who are diagnosed with various learning disabilities. She is passionate about bridging the gap between home and school in order for clients to reach their full potential and for stakeholders to be mindful and sensitive to the necessary accommodations to ensure emotional, social, and academic success.

During her time within the school setting and clinical experience with a local agency, Lisa has worked extensively with families who have experienced life stage transitions such as: adoption, grief, and divorce. She utilizes mindfulness, play therapy, and sand-tray techniques in order to empower clients to experience reflection and personal growth. Lisa is certified with Connection Coalition, a non-profit organization that provides trauma-informed yoga programing and is a member of the Association of Play Therapy and the American Counseling Association.

Lisa’s specializations include:

Learning Disabilities: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in all forms, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Communication Disorders, Intellectual Disabilities, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Specific Learning Disorders with impairment in reading, written expression, and mathematics

Trauma: Grief and loss, domestic violence, human trafficking, neglect, sexual abuse, natural disasters

Children & Teens: Anxiety, bullying, career counseling, college acceptance, depression, developmental transitions, executive functioning, identity development, self-esteem, social skills, testing anxiety, perfectionism, athletic performance anxiety, peer relationships, suicidal and homicidal ideation, self harm, mood dysregulation and psychotic disorders

Families: Communication, boundary setting, blended families, foster care and adoption, conflict resolution, life-stage transitions, stress management, limit setting, parent-child relationship development

Lisa’s therapeutic style includes holistic psychotherapy, cultural competence, and empathetic understanding with unconditional positive regard to all clients. In addition to providing services to clients, Lisa is passionate about spending time outdoors, running and yoga, as well as prioritizing quality time with her family, friends, and Golden Retriever.

Part of choosing to engage in therapy is choosing to understand yourself more and to seek other perspectives to do so. I engage clients in collaborative processes to assist you not only in improving your relationships with others, but also enriching your relationship with yourself. I collaborate with you to cultivate an intentional life by asking questions you’ve never thought about before. I take great intention in creating a space where you feel supported and accepted, because we must feel a certain level of safety and trust in order to have the courage to change, grow, and be vulnerable.

I am a welcoming therapist with a warm energy committed to providing a client-centered approach that takes into account every aspect of your identity. I particularly enjoy working with young women in emerging adulthood (ages 18-30) but I have experience working with adults of all genders and all ages. I aim to provide LGBTQIA+, sex-positive, affirming services while incorporating a social justice anti-racist framework. In my clinical work, I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy modalities and mindfulness approaches to meet clients “where they are.”

Rupi Kaur writes “What is stronger than the human heart which shatters over and over and still lives?” I consider psychotherapy to be one way that clients strengthen their hearts, and I am continuously inspired by the resilience I see in therapy sessions every day. It is an honor to be a part of my clients’ journeys towards living more meaningful lives.

It is my goal to help people through difficult times and communicate better within their families. I would like to support individuals, couples and families as they learn to manage what feels too hard to do on their own. I have worked extensively supporting youth and families through post traumatic events, anger issues, anxiety, depression and adjustments. I want to help support you through this difficult time or time of adjustment.

I am a strong believer that personal growth, change, and self-improvement are attainable for anyone willing to make the decision to try. I have a long list of personal experiences that have brought me to a point in life where I can now reach out and help others therapeutically. If you are feeling stuck in your life or in a situation that feels hopeless, you do not have to suffer through it alone. I would be honored to join you right where you are and begin establishing the right tools for you to get unstuck and to find that hope that was lost or missing. Primarily, I have clinical experience working with adolescents struggling with ADHD, depression, anxiety, suicidality, autism, and oppositional defiance. Secondarily, my personal experiences fuel my desire to work with young/teen mothers, first responders and spouses/family members of first responders.

I have been supporting parents in every job or role I’ve had in adulthood whether I knew it at the time or not. My clinical work began working with teenagers in the inpatient setting. I noticed that there would be times where patients would become stable while in the hospital and then we would discharge them, only for them to return a short time later. I realized we needed to be working with the family as a whole. Then I began working with younger children, thinking if I intercepted my clients at a younger age, I could potentially prevent the struggles I saw on the inpatient unit. I slowly worked my way down in age, working in the infant and early childhood realm in mental health care. One day, I had a lightbulb moment. I noticed a trend in all of these settings: the most important and impactful work is done with parents. Most mental health difficulties in children (and even many adults!) can be traced back to early childhood. Those experiences either tend to help or hinder our roles as parents.

I approach therapy as the healing of all parts of you not just one particular area or problem. I use a combination of Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Together we will navigate through the jungle of trauma, depression, and anxiety. Together, our job is to find a way to the pure, free, natural state of happiness found within your authentic self. There your triggers will no longer trigger you. You will not believe those negative thoughts as truth, and you will be freed of any baggage that trauma as placed on your shoulders.

If you are struggling to cope with stress and anxiety from past or ongoing difficulties (such as school/work stress, friendship/relationship problems, bullying, or family dynamics), I can help you process and problem-solve your experiences and offer a path forward. This includes learning coping skills and interpersonal effectiveness, as well as examining thought and behavior patterns. I enjoy working collaboratively with my clients to help them be the best version of themselves by helping them to identify their goals and to leverage their strengths to meet those goals.

Are you or your child struggling in school and you don't know why or how to help? A psychoeducational evaluation can determine if an individual meets criteria for a learning disability or ADHD, as well as highlight strengths and weaknesses and guide academic and treatment recommendations (including accommodations on standardized tests, if appropriate).

I am currently conducting all therapy via telehealth and am accepting new clients ages 12+ in DC, MD, VA, NJ, PA, & more. Psychoeducational evaluations are conducted in DC only (ages 6+). Please feel free to email me so we can set up a brief phone consultation to see if I can help. If I can't, I'll try to point you in the right direction.

Do you struggle to communicate or connect emotionally with your partner? Are you and your partner having trouble with your sexual relationship or had an affair? Do you feel like your anxiety, depression, sexual/porn addiction or trauma are getting in the way your life and relationships? I can you help you address your relational or mental health issues so you can feel more connected and emotionally steady.

Research shows that you need to have a good relationship with your therapist in order to succeed in counseling, so I work hard to create an environment calm, trusting environment. I pursue further education in specialties to better serve my clients, such as Sex Therapy, EMDR, Prepare/Enrich, and Gottman. I practice from a Christian worldview and I am able to incorporate that (or not) based on my client preferences. I love to listen to people's stories and help them identify healthy, achievable goals, then work with them to reach those goals.

We will work together to learn about your unique story and create a treatment plan that addresses your specific needs. I am currently offering both in-person and telehealth sessions for individuals and couples. Contact me to book a short phone call to find out if we are good fit and answer any questions.

The best place to change and grow is in relationships. I specialize in providing a safe, supportive and collaborative environment for each client who steps into my office. Whether it is through their anxiety, with their significant other or processing spiritual or relational trauma, my goal is connection. When that connection is fostered, I help clients unpack their feelings, process their irrational thoughts and get to the root of their struggles for true change to take place. It’s not about a quick fix but deep processing through a supportive, empathetic environment!

Emily's passion for mental health began when she was just a child who saw how much counseling helped those in her family. Since then, her passion has only grown for helping others respond to life and its challenges. Emily believes in the importance of building a strong relationship with her clients, understanding how their identities impact their lives, and ensuring that she is always learning and growing as a person and counselor.

From her experiences in an on-campus clinic and a hospital support center, Emily has developed an approach to counseling that combines Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Person Centered Therapy. While everyone has different therapeutic needs, Emily tends to draw mostly from these approaches. Emily's professional interests include grief and loss, anxiety, body image concerns, stress management, and life transitions.