- Years in practice
- 11
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- California
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Family conflicts
- Focus
- Grief
About Lisa
Lisa Rakusin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 11 years of experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, and life transitions. Lisa focuses on practical steps clients can use day to day and offers steady support as people work toward change.
Clients can expect a calm, straightforward approach that centers their own knowledge of their life. Lisa believes people are the experts on their stories and builds on existing strengths.
Background and approach
Sessions aim to find realistic tools and new ways of responding when old patterns stop working. Her work draws on attachment-based ideas to understand relationship patterns and on cognitive behavioral techniques to address thoughts and behaviors. Emotionally-focused strategies are used to help people notice and name feelings, and EMDR methods may be offered when trauma memories are affecting daily life.
Lisa has helped people navigate parenting concerns, career shifts, addictions, and compassion fatigue. She also supports those dealing with anger, self-esteem, and relationship or intimacy-related issues. The emphasis is on clear goals and small, doable changes.
In sessions she uses plain language and collaborative planning. She helps clients set priorities, test new habits, and track progress. Her aim is to empower people to move toward a more manageable and satisfying life.
What Lisa works with
Everything Lisa lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Lisa helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Codependency
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Mood disorders
- Self-love
- Women's issues
Approaches Lisa lists
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Approaches that translate well to online care
Attachment-based work looks at how early relationship patterns show up now and helps people change how they relate and respond to others. It can be useful for people dealing with relationship stress, intimacy concerns, or family conflict. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and gives practical exercises to test new ways of thinking and behaving. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. EMDR is an approach used to reduce the impact of distressing memories by guiding the processing of traumatic material; it can be offered when trauma is a central concern and the timing feels right.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and suggest which methods to try. Plans are adjusted over time based on what helps and what feels doable for the client.
Online sessions are available by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to offer flexibility. Video sessions let people speak face to face, phone sessions are useful when bandwidth or attention needs differ, and messaging or chat can support check-ins or shorter conversations between calls. These formats make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving, or travel while working with licensed professionals and therapists.
Questions people ask about Lisa
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, addictions, parenting concerns, and related issues like anger and self-esteem.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her style is collaborative and straightforward, combining attachment ideas with cognitive behavioral tools and emotionally-focused work to address feelings and behaviors.
How much experience does she have?
She has 11 years of professional experience as a clinician in California.
What credential does she hold and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, practicing in California.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.
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