PuttingFamilyFirst

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LR Portrait of Lisa Rakusin
Online therapist

Lisa Rakusin

Practical support for stress and life changes

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Credentials
LCSW
Experience
11 years
Licensed in
California
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Lisa

Lisa Rakusin is a licensed clinical social worker who focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, grief, and hard life changes. She speaks plainly and listens closely so parents and caregivers can talk through pressing concerns. Her approach respects each person as the expert on their life while offering steady support and guidance.

She aims to make the first steps feel doable. Sessions emphasize practical skills for coping, clearer ways to understand emotions, and small changes that add up over time.

Background and approach

Lisa encourages clients to build on strengths they already have while learning new tools for self-care and problem solving. Lisa draws from therapies that include attachment-based work, cognitive behavioral techniques, and emotionally-focused strategies. She uses these approaches to help people identify patterns, shift unhelpful thoughts, and strengthen relationships.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, or EMDR, is also part of her toolkit for addressing traumatic memories when appropriate. With 11 years of experience and a California LCSW license (CA LCSW 76969), she offers a calm, pragmatic style. Sessions are tailored to each person’s day-to-day life and goals.

The pace and focus change as needs evolve. Lisa provides services in English and offers a range of session formats. Parents looking for a patient, steady guide through parenting stresses or life transitions may find her approach practical and reassuring.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Lisa integrates attachment-based work, cognitive behavioral therapy, and emotionally-focused methods into online sessions. Attachment-based work looks at how early connections shape current relationships and helps people form safer patterns. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, focuses on spotting unhelpful thoughts and testing new ways of thinking to reduce anxiety and depression. Emotionally-focused therapy helps people identify and name strong emotions and then use that awareness to change how they relate to others.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Lisa will talk with clients about goals and preferences, try approaches that fit the concern, and adjust plans as needs change. The aim is to pick methods that feel practical and useful for each person.

Online therapy here is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. These formats make it easier to fit sessions into busy family schedules and to keep momentum between appointments. Licensed professionals can use these options to deliver the same therapeutic tools as in-person work while meeting people where they are.

Attachment-Based Therapy

Looks at how early bonds shaped what you expect from closeness, and how that plays out now with a partner, a parent, or your own children.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Lisa often address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, parenting challenges, anger, self esteem, career and related concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is practical and collaborative. She listens, offers tools from several approaches, and helps people apply skills in daily life.
What kind of background and experience does she have?
She has 11 years of professional experience working with a range of life stressors and emotional concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a licensed clinical social worker - LCSW - with California license CA LCSW 76969 and practices in California.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be done by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
11 years
Licensed
California
Languages
English

Next step

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