Lisa Rakusin, LCSW

Lisa Rakusin is a licensed clinical social worker in California who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, and major life changes. She approaches sessions with respect for each person’s story and looks for strengths to build on. Lisa aims to make the first steps toward change feel manageable for someone who is worried or overwhelmed.

She uses practical tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thought patterns and try new ways of responding. Attachment-based ideas guide how she talks about close relationships and emotional needs. Client-centered techniques keep the focus on what feels most important to the individual.

Lisa has 11 years of professional experience working with issues such as trauma and abuse, addictions, parenting concerns, self-esteem, and career stress. She also addresses compassion fatigue, mood concerns, and intimacy-related worries. Her practice includes attention to family of origin dynamics and forgiveness work when those topics come up.

In sessions she listens for what a person already does well and offers steps that can fit into daily life. Work may include short skill-building exercises, problem-focused plans, and space to process painful memories. She frames therapy as a partnership where small changes add up over time.

Clients describe practical focus areas that include coping with life transitions, aging and geriatric issues, codependency, and women’s issues. Lisa tailors each session to the person’s goals and pace, supporting steady progress and clearer choices.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Lisa often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice thought patterns that increase anxiety or low mood and practice small, concrete changes. CBT is useful for stress, depression, and managing day-to-day reactions. Attachment-Based Therapy is also part of her approach and focuses on how early and current relationships shape feelings and behavior; this can help when relationship worries or intimacy issues are central.

Finding the right approach happens together. She will talk with each person about goals and preferences, try techniques that match those goals, and adjust based on what helps. The process is collaborative and paced to what the individual needs.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more accessible. Video is useful for deeper conversations and real-time interaction. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text messaging support brief check-ins, between-session coaching, or flexible communication during busy days. These options let people fit therapy into work, caregiving, or varied schedules while using chosen therapeutic methods.