Lisa Foo, PhD

LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST

"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." - Reinhold Niebuhr

I provide the following services to children, adolescents, adults, couples, families, and organizations:

Therapy

While I treat a variety of concerns, I specialize in anxiety/stress, parenting concerns, perfectionism, relationship challenges, life transitions/changes, and coping with medical conditions (including sleep problems and pain). My experience working with both adults and children provides special expertise in working with young adults as well as adults (individuals and couples) experiencing stress related to parenting. I utilize a strengths-based framework, a warm collaborative style, and individually tailored strategies incorporating evidence-based tools including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness, relaxation, and promoting healthy lifestyle choices (sleep, nutrition, exercise, etc.). I encourage thoughtfulness regarding ways that you can feel more connected to those who matter to you, and how to make life choices consistent with your own priorities and values. I listen with compassion while also incorporating humor when appropriate.

When possible, it is wonderful to receive the love and support of speaking with your own family and friends. In contrast, our professional context allows you to process your life events, thoughts, and feelings in a confidential space in which you can focus solely on your own needs and without worrying about my reactions. You are also free of concerns that come from speaking with loved ones regarding whether you are burdening them, feeling too needy within the relationship, or how sharing your thoughts and feelings might affect your relationship. I provide my psychological knowledge and experience and objective perspective, and together with your own expertise in knowing yourself, we together collaborate in your care.

When working with couples and families I strive to help all individuals feel valued and heard. Strategies often include building effective communication skills, appreciating multiple perspectives, and collaborative goal-setting and problem-solving. I encourage all involved to balance willingness to compromise and appropriate limit-setting.

When children and teens are in my office there are options to play games, engage in therapeutic art activities, act out stories with a dollhouse or puppets, or use fidget toys. For those who are hesitant to engage in therapy, our first goal is to connect and build trust that I am an advocate and problem-solving assistant, here to motivate but not to criticize or punish. I will never know or spend as much time with your child as you do, and greatly value your collaboration in your child’s care. Based on a combination of your child’s age and specific concerns, we will create a plan regarding how much of session time is spent with a parent in the room and how frequently to have parent-only appointments. I am available as needed to provide consultation to your child’s school and to remotely attend school meetings.

We can use a mix of conversation, structured skills-building, and also tasks/exercises to complete between visits. For those interested in a structured approach, or who feel initially more comfortable focusing on skills-building instead of discussing more personal experiences, I offer the option of utilizing therapeutic workbooks that I specifically select to match an individual’s age and areas of concern. I am available to speak with other health care providers for consultation and coordination of care.

Assessment

I provide psychological assessment services to identify an individual’s emotional and/or behavioral challenges, including objectively clarifying current symptom levels. With children and teens the assessment process typically includes measures completed by parents and the school. I administer, score, and analyze all inventories myself. Assessments include a review of relevant records, including prior evaluations, relevant healthcare records, and special education plans. All therapy services begin with an assessment process to guide treatment planning, with the option of periodic re-evaluation to objectively track treatment progress over time. I also offer stand-alone assessments for reasons such as a seeking information regarding whether therapy services are needed (for example, after experiencing a challenging life event), reviewing testing received elsewhere, or as part of a requirement prior to a medical procedure or school admissions process.

Preventative / Community Mental Health

I love when I have the opportunity help prevent mental health challenges before they have a chance to begin! This can include structured education regarding coping strategies, such as harnessing the power of helpful self-talk, and learning techniques such as mindfulness and relaxation. Preventative services are available for children, teens, and adults. I am also available to work with community groups to provide workshops teaching these skills and to craft and deliver custom presentations on mental health topics. I am available for consultation as a partner in helping your organization identify ways to help create a culture of belonging and connection.

Availability

I offer appointments during mornings and afternoons on weekdays and Saturdays. Please email me for current availability. I'm typically able to get new patients in quickly depending on your scheduling flexibility.