- Stress and anxiety
- Grief and transitions
- Attachment focused work
About Lisa
Lisa Rakusin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 11 years of professional experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, and grief, and helps them take practical steps toward change.
She encourages clients to use their own strengths as a starting point. Sessions focus on clarifying what is most pressing and deciding small, doable steps. Lisa emphasizes emotional connection and patterns that keep people stuck rather than blaming the person for difficulties.
Her approach draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy and attachment-based ideas to look at how emotions and relationship patterns affect daily life. She also uses client-centered methods to keep the conversation grounded in each person's perspective and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy when practical skill-building is helpful.
In sessions she listens for the emotions behind behaviors and works with clients to name those feelings. From there she helps people try new ways of responding and testing different choices in real life. She also offers tools for managing anxiety, grief, and the stress that comes with major life changes.
Lisa’s background includes long-term clinical work in settings that emphasize direct support and skill development. Her LCSW credential reflects her practice in California. She works with people who want clear, manageable steps and attention to how emotions shape their decisions.
How her approaches translate to online work
Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on identifying and naming emotions and the interaction patterns that follow. It is often used when people want to understand recurring emotional reactions and how those reactions shape relationships and daily choices. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at patterns formed in close relationships and how those patterns influence stress, grief, and connection. It helps people notice how past relationship experiences affect current feelings and behaviors. Client-Centered Therapy centers the client's view and priorities, encouraging the person to lead the pace and focus of sessions while the therapist listens and reflects.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, and will adjust methods as needed. This is a collaborative process where the client’s needs guide which techniques are emphasized.
Practical benefits of online sessions include fitting appointments into busy schedules and reducing travel time. Online work can make it easier to check in during a break at work or to keep regular momentum between in-person commitments. Confirm the current session formats before booking so you know whether video or other options are offered.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting challenges, self-esteem, career concerns, and related areas.
What therapeutic approach does she use?
She uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside attachment-based and client-centered methods, and may include CBT or EMDR when appropriate.
How much experience does she have?
She has 11 years of professional work experience in clinical settings.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in California.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.