Your Peace

Begins Within

“The wound is the place where the light enters you.” ~ Rumi

Lisa inspires others with a passion that enlightens individuals and groups to want to become their best selves ”

– Lynn G.

Live Consciously

I am a Licensed Clinical Therapist with a passion for helping people find their way to a healthier, more fulfilling life. With extensive experience in both mental health and education, I've had the privilege of working in a variety of settings. My journey has given me a deep understanding of the challenges we all face, and I'm dedicated to keeping my skills sharp and up-to-date.

Are you navigating stress, anxiety, or depression? Do you feel overwhelmed by your emotions? I specialize in helping you master emotional regulation, empowering you to thrive in both your personal and professional life. My approach is supportive and insightful, designed to help you unlock your potential and build a healthier, more fulfilling future.

I am a proud graduate of Eastern Michigan University, where I earned my Master of Social Work, and Michigan State University, where I completed my Bachelor of Arts. I am committed to a lifelong pursuit of knowledge, ensuring my skills remain at the forefront of my field. When I'm not helping my clients, I enjoy sailing and outdoor activities with my family on the shores of Lake Michigan. I am more than just a therapist—I am a partner in your journey toward a more fulfilling and peaceful life.

  • My Approach to Therapy

    As a licensed therapist with a private practice in North Muskegon, Michigan, I specialize in working with adults and young adults aged 16 and older. My mission is to give people the space and time to be truly seen and heard. I believe each of us is a unique combination of our life experiences—the stories that shape who we are—and our place within the broader human community.

    In my work, I help clients explore the different parts of themselves, both conscious and subconscious, that influence how they connect with others. We’ll look at the roles you play in your daily life and work to identify and release any biological, genetic, social, psychological, or spiritual patterns that no longer serve you in a positive way.

    I've had the privilege of witnessing life-changing transformations in both myself and my clients. To help you on your journey, I use a variety of proven therapeutic modalities. I often blend traditional approaches with participatory methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, Shadow Work, Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT/Tapping), and The Body Code to create a personalized path for your growth.

  • Empower Your Team with a Dynamic Speaker

    I am passionate about bringing my knowledge to you. I've had the privilege of traveling across Michigan and the country to speak, teach, and inspire. I can create a customized session tailored to your team's needs, whether it's for a school, hospital, healthcare facility, or corporate workplace.

    My presentations are designed to be engaging, practical, and transformative. I can cover a wide range of topics, including:

    Stress-management and mindfulness

    Creating supportive and caring environments

    Building stronger relationships and effective communication

    Emotional regulation and de-escalation skills

    Trauma-informed practices and holistic healing

    Collaborative problem-solving and team building

    Whether you need a keynote speaker for a state conference or a breakout session for your team, I'm here to help. My goal is to equip you and your team with the skills to foster a healthier and more productive environment.

  • Engagements

    I have had the honor of speaking at a variety of conferences and organizations, including:

    State Conferences: I have been a featured speaker at events for the Michigan Association of School Social Workers (MASSW), The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) and the Michigan Association of Administrators of Special Education (MAASE). I have also presented at the Michigan Federation for Children and Families and the Michigan Transition Services Association State Conference.

    Healthcare & Workplace Settings: My work has taken me to a range of professional environments, including staff development at Trinity Health (Mercy Health Partners) and PrivaMD.

    Educational Institutions: I have had the privilege of leading professional development sessions for many school districts and academies, including Muskegon County Intermediate School District, Kent County Intermediate School District, Cheboygan-Otsego-Presque Isle ESD, National Heritage Academy, North Muskegon Public Schools, Reeths-Puffer Schools, Mona Shores Public Schools, Montague Public Schools, White Lake Area Community Education, Eagle Crest Charter Academy in North Carolina, and Rogers City Public Schools.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Empower Yourself

I use this collaborative and empowering approach to help you identify and change negative thought patterns. My focus is on helping you understand the powerful connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, which is the core principle of CBT.

In our work together, we'll start by uncovering the unhelpful thought cycles that are holding you back. I will guide you to challenge and reframe these thoughts, replacing them with more realistic and positive perspectives.

My goal is not just to talk about your problems but to equip you with practical, effective skills you can use every day to manage your emotions and make lasting change. I often provide "homework" assignments to help you apply these new strategies in your daily life, reinforcing the progress we make in our sessions.

My approach helps you feel in control of your own well-being, building resilience and emotional intelligence.

Together, we'll work to reduce stress, manage anxiety, and empower you to live a more fulfilling life.

Solution-Focused Therapy

Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) is a powerful, optimistic approach that I use to help you move forward. Instead of dwelling on the problems that brought you to therapy, we will focus on what you want to achieve and how we can get you there.

My approach is built on a few core principles:

  • Focus on the Future: My goal is to help you envision a future where your problem is no longer an issue. I'll ask questions that help you describe what that future looks like and what tiny steps you can take to start moving toward it.

  • Identify Your Strengths: I believe you already have the strengths and resources you need to create change.

  • Empowerment: My role is to be a collaborative partner in your journey. Through powerful questioning and a strengths-based perspective, I'll help you recognize your own resilience and ability to find a way forward.

This method is designed to be efficient and effective, helping you achieve tangible change and build a more hopeful, empowered future.

I use Tapping, also known as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), as a dynamic tool to help you find peace and take control of your well-being. This powerful method combines the wisdom of ancient Chinese acupressure with modern psychology.

In our sessions, I'll guide you through this simple yet effective process. You'll use your fingertips to gently tap on specific meridian points on your face and upper body while focusing on a specific issue, whether it's anxiety, a difficult memory, or stress. This action sends a calming signal directly to your brain's stress center, the amygdala, helping to soothe your nervous system and even reduce cortisol levels.

This scientifically-backed approach is designed to help you release emotional patterns that keep you stuck. It's an empowering way to feel more calm and collected, reduce stress and anxiety, improve your sleep, and ultimately, reclaim your life.

Tapping is a skill you'll learn to master, giving you the power to find relief whenever you need it, wherever you are.

Emotional Freedom Technique/Tapping

Discover Your Authentic Self Through Shadow Work

Discover Your Authentic Self Through Shadow Work

Shadow work is an exciting, transformative process of exploring the hidden, unconscious parts of yourself. Developed by Carl Jung, this practice helps you uncover repressed fears, desires, and negative traits, leading to greater self-awareness and personal growth. The goal isn't to eliminate these "shadow" aspects but to understand, accept, and integrate them, so you can achieve a more balanced and authentic sense of self.

This work helps you address self-sabotaging behaviors, heal from past traumas, and fully embrace who you are. The journey involves:

  • Awareness: Recognizing the parts of your personality you've hidden away.

  • Exploration: Delving into thoughts and emotions you typically avoid.

  • Integration: Accepting these repressed parts as a complete part of your identity.

Unlocking Your Inner Leader

This type of therapy is a launching point for a journey of self-discovery, helping you learn how to connect with the different parts of your internal world, sometimes linked with "parts work." We will explore these different parts by noticing, relating to, and giving voice to them. Once you can access these parts, you can begin to understand their purpose and help them work together in harmony with your core "Self."

Many of these parts developed as a way to cope with past experiences, traumas, or challenges. By gently freeing them from their roles as managers and protectors, you can heal past wounds, gain greater self-awareness and emotional intelligence, and ultimately foster profound self-transformation. This process can lead to enhanced self-esteem and more fulfilling relationships.

A Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is someone who has a more sensitive nervous system and processes sensory information more deeply and thoroughly than others. It's a normal and healthy personality trait found in about 15-20% of the population. Being an HSP means you're more aware of subtleties in your environment and are often more empathetic and intuitive. This trait can be a powerful strength, though it can also lead to feeling easily overwhelmed in a stimulating world.

Navigating Life as a HSP

Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) possess a unique nervous system that allows them to process the world more deeply, making them highly perceptive, empathetic, and creative. However, this trait can also lead to challenges such as overwhelm, anxiety, and exhaustion due to picking up on more stimuli than others. Common struggles include difficulty with change and decision-making, feeling misunderstood, and the tendency toward perfectionism and people-pleasing.

Despite these challenges, being an HSP is a powerful gift, not a weakness. When you learn to harness your sensitivity, it can be a superpower. You have the potential to be a deep thinker, a conscientious worker, and an individual who is profoundly moved by art and nature.

Therapy can provide the tools to manage your sensitivity so it no longer leads to overwhelm. We'll work together to identify your specific challenges and teach you effective strategies, such as mindfulness, to manage your strong emotions and let go of stress. My goal is to help you embrace your sensitivity, so you can stop feeling broken or different and start using your unique strengths to build a more fulfilling life.

HighlySensitive Person (HSP)

Take the HSP Quiz https://hsperson.com/test/

The Body Code

The Body Code is a holistic energy healing system developed by Dr. Bradley Nelson. This method focuses on identifying and releasing energetic imbalances that may be causing physical or emotional issues.

Practitioners use a technique called applied kinesiology, or muscle testing, to communicate with the subconscious mind. This process helps them pinpoint specific blockages related to trapped emotions, toxins, pathogens, and misalignments in the body. The ultimate goal is to empower your body's innate ability to heal itself, leading to improved well-being on all levels.

Mindfulness

As a therapist, I use mindfulness to help my clients become more aware of their thoughts, feelings, and the world around them. The goal is to help them observe these experiences without automatically reacting or passing judgment. This approach is especially helpful for conditions like anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, as it teaches clients to recognize and step out of harmful thought patterns.

My work is often based on the principles of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), which blends the mindfulness practices of Jon Kabat-Zinn with cognitive behavioral therapy. By integrating techniques like meditation and breathing exercises, I empower clients to cultivate a state of non-judgmental, present-moment awareness.

Through our sessions, clients learn to observe their internal and external experiences with curiosity and acceptance. I teach them to pay deliberate attention to the present, whether it's the sensation of their breath or the sounds in the room. This regular practice fosters self-awareness and equips them with the skills to manage their emotions and responses more effectively, ultimately leading to greater well-being.

From the Shores of Lake Michigan