meet lisa.

We can be kind, strong, intelligent, and resourceful individuals and still there will be times when we need other people to support us - that’s just how we’re built. Acknowledging that vulnerability and asking for what we need is true wisdom. I honor and respect that in you.

Every person is a unique expression of life, I work to support people in awakening to a more authentic way of living. I deeply respect the painful things that bring people to seek support, as thresholds that offer the potential for healing, connection and purpose and work to cultivate that optimism while also honoring the suffering that leads to such transitions. I see people from the perspective of their basic goodness and health, and the challenges they face as an opportunities to “hear” from the parts of them that need attention, are out of balance, or have important information for us.

My approach:

I work to ensure that the space we work in together is a comfortable one, in which difficult issues and emotions can be explored without judgment. My personal experience has shown me how healing it can be to have the felt sense of being truly seen and heard. In my work I address the whole person, incorporating mindfulness and mind/body approaches where appropriate to support emotional regulation.

My background:

I grew up in St. Paul, MN and then lived in New Mexico, New York and Philadelphia while I was in school. While St. Paul is my home I have a deep affection for the desert and the Pacific Northwest. I have a master of arts degree in counseling and psychotherapy and have primarily worked with individuals but also work with couples and families. I am interested in the systems of which we are a part - systems that inform how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to the world. I have worked in a variety of settings as a mental health professional including clinics, hospitals, and in private practice. I have specialized training in: grief and bereavement, anxiety, depression, forgiveness, sensorimotor training for the treatment of trauma, trauma informed care, mindfulness based training (including mindfulness based stress reduction, meditation, and somatic practices), and specific training in the human-animal bond (individuals and families that consider an animal to be part of their family system). I also have a master of fine arts degree in metalsmithing and have taught in university art programs. 

When you're ready, I’m here.

License number: MN #1991