Lisa Rakusin, LCSW

Lisa Rakusin is a California Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 11 years of professional experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, relationship strain, codependency concerns, and life transitions. Lisa focuses on practical steps people can use when daily life feels overwhelming. She speaks English and practices in California.

Her approach treats the person as the expert on their life. Sessions often begin by listening to what matters most and noting strengths already in place. From there she and the client map small, doable changes that can reduce reactivity and increase choice in relationships and work.

Lisa draws on attachment-based and client-centered ideas to help people understand how early patterns affect their current relationships. She also uses cognitive behavioral techniques to address unhelpful thinking and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to look at patterns around closeness and conflict. For people affected by trauma, she includes EMDR where appropriate and with informed discussion.

In sessions she keeps the work practical and grounded. That can mean creating clear boundary scripts, practicing short exercises for anxiety, or planning next steps after a loss. She also helps clients notice patterns around people-pleasing, difficulty saying no, and caretaking that drains energy.

People who choose her often want direct feedback and tools they can try between sessions. Lisa encourages clients to test changes in real life and to bring results back for review. That approach helps people move from feeling stuck toward clearer choices.

How her approaches translate to online sessions