Lisa Palley (she/her)

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #108222

CLINICAL APPROACH

At its best, therapy provides a safe, supportive environment where you can be heard and valued for the unique person that you are. Having someone in your corner to help you process past hurts and pinpoint and remove barriers to authentic, happy living can be indispensable.

Although I will collaborate with you and tailor my interventions to best suit your needs, I am client-centered in my approach and a proponent of attachment-based therapy; together, we will explore how your formative relationships and past experiences contribute to your current challenges.

Some of the issues I have addressed in my clinical work are anxiety, stress management, depression, family conflict, low self-esteem, life transitions, and relationship struggles. I enjoy working with people from diverse backgrounds to identify areas for growth and healing, and predominantly work with adults and high-school age adolescents.

About Me

I have always been fascinated by human behavior and drawn to helping others. Prior to becoming a therapist, I worked in the corporate and entertainment sectors and experienced the challenges of juggling work,

relationships, and my physical and emotional well-being. The desire to help people find true fulfillment and balance in their lives was the impetus behind my career change.

In my downtime, I love being outside, especially near large bodies of water; I find the ocean incredibly grounding and healing. I also enjoy daily movement, reading, and spending time with my loved ones and animals.

I hope you find working with me to be like talking to a trusted friend or ally. Since I invite you to show up as your authentic self, I strive to do the same, and will often infuse my sessions with humor and candor.


Services I Offer

Virtual sessions for:

  • Individual Therapy (Teens, Adults)

  • Parent Support Therapy


Therapeutic Modalities & Practices I Use

  • Person-Centered Therapy

  • Relational Therapy

  • Solution-Focused Therapy

  • Attachment-Based Therapy

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Family Systems Therapy

  • Mindfulness

Specialties

  • Relationship challenges

  • Family communication and connectedness

  • Depression

  • Anxiety (social anxiety, generalized anxiety, perfectionism, stress management)

  • Life transitions


Areas of Concern I Work With

  • LGBTQ+ Concerns (Gender Identity Exploration, Gender Incongruence, Interpersonal Connections, Parenting, Romantic Relationships, Sexual Orientation Exploration, Transitioning)

  • Life Transitions

  • Loneliness

  • Parenting Issues

  • Perfectionism

  • Procrastination & Motivation

  • Relationship Problems

  • School Avoidance

  • Self-Esteem

  • Sensitivity To Rejection & Criticism

  • Shyness

  • Sleep Problems (Nightmares, Night Terrors, Insomnia)

  • Social Skills

  • Stress & Stress Management

  • Trauma

  • Trust Issues

  • Abandonment

  • Abuse (Emotional/Verbal) (Survivor)

  • Academic Problems

  • Anger

  • Anxiety (Generalized, Social)

  • Attachment Issues

  • Body Dysmorphia

  • Body Image

  • Bullied By Others

  • Bullies Others

  • Communication Difficulties

  • Depression

  • Divorce (Supporting Teens, Supporting Adults)

  • Family Conflict

  • Health & Medical Problems

  • Identity Exploration

  • Learning Difficulties

  • LGBTQ+ Concerns (Anxiety, Coming Out, Depression, Discrimination from Family/Friends/Community, Gender Dysphoria)



Education & Experience

Education:

  • M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University (Health emphasis)

  • B.A. in Critical Theory and Social Justice from Occidental College

Work Experience:

  • Video Therapist at Family Therapy Center (2020-present)

  • In-Home Coach at Teen Therapy Center (2018-2020)

  • Worked at Family & Children Services of Silicon Valley (2016-2018)

  • Worked at Adolescent Counseling Services (2014-2016)