LISA SCHWARTZ

M.S. Marriage and Family Therapy

Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Life consists of lots of different relationships. These relationships can be amazing and mystifying and sometimes they can become deeply complicated. In moments partners, parents, coworkers, children, and friends can cause us to feel lost and out of balance. That may be why you are seeking therapy.

You may feel frustrated and powerless about how other people are acting or the ways their behavior is impacting you. Or you may be stuck in your own misery and muck. No matter what the situation, you have more choices and control than you think. Therapy can help you see that. Therapy can bring a fresh perspective and tools that can help you remember your strengths and worth and create a more secure sense of connection and belonging. Using Emotionally Focused Therapy as my main modality I can:

● Help you see and dismantle damaging patterns, cycles, and themes, often based on behaviors and beliefs learned early in life, that aren’t serving you.

● Help you find and express your feelings which goes beyond the anxiety, anger, fear, or shame on the surface to the deeper feelings and emotions.

● Help you tune into and befriend your body, which can be a gateway to greater awareness, appreciation, and self-regulation.

As for me, I bring a lifetime of experience with joy, laughter, risk, loss, and grief to this work. I grew up in a family that was complicated, and I adopted coping mechanisms that worked for a while. But ultimately, I needed to dig deeper, to understand myself, and learn to forge healthy and secure attachments with others. I have learned about trauma on so many levels—and its impact on people. And I know what’s possible on the other side, which is why I love the discovery and collaboration of the therapeutic process.

Clients have said I’m insightful, empathetic, and deeply attuned. Longtime collaborators called me enthusiastic, unflappable, and direct. All to say I won’t just sit in the room with you, I’ll be actively engaged. I bring my full self to this work.

On the personal side, I love my busy life in SW Minneapolis. I tackle most of the reading for book club, dance poorly but gleefully, and spend whatever time I can with my endlessly fascinating adult children. I’ve always been a dog person, but I suddenly find myself getting excited about adopting a pair of rescue cats.

I look forward to working with you and helping you create the life you want.

TRAINING

• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT):  Completed Externship and Core Skills 

• Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET):  Completed training in this trauma intervention

• Brainspotting: Completed Phase 1 training