Experience

Lisa Wasnock, is Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who started her career working with children with Autism, teaching social skills, running a social skills group for children, and ABA sessions. Lisa also worked in the Community Mental Health setting, first as a Clinical Case Manager, and then as a Child, Youth and Teen therapist. Throughout her career Lisa has worked in a multitude of settings including in-home, outpatient, school based services, residential in-patient and outpatient, partial hospitalization programs, multi-disciplinary clinics, and private practice.

Within these settings Lisa has provided individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, behavioral modification, parenting skills and education, coordination/consultation, and school based therapy services. Lisa specializes in working with Neurodivergent individuals (ADHD/ADD, ODD) Autism Spectrum Disorder, behavioral challenges, anxiety, depression, grief, high conflict divorce, divorced/blended families, high achieving students/students transitioning from high school to college, and emerging adults. Lisa also enjoys working with parents and families looking to improve their quality of life and happiness.

Lisa has a comprehensive background providing services (including but not limited to): cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), motivational interviewing, internal family systems (IFS), mindfulness, play therapy, clinical case management, behavioral modification, crisis management, IEP/504 assistance, and safety assessments and planning.

Education & CREDenTIALS

Lisa completed her undergraduate work at the University of Florida in 2011, with a degree in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences. She attended Loyola University Chicago for graduate school, and graduated with a Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2014. Lisa holds an unrestricted license in clinical social work in the state of California-LCSW #85835.

Philosophy

Lisa’s approach to treatment is to collaborate with her clients in order to create a unique and individualized treatment and support plan. Everyone comes into therapy/coaching in a different stage of their life with different experiences. She believes it is important to be able to work with a therapist who understands this and will create a safe and therapeutic environment, while also supporting and gently challenging clients to make the changes they desire. When working with Lisa, she will work with you collaboratively to help you reach your intended goals.

Lisa is looking forward to meeting with you and/or your family and determining how she can best support your goals.

EXPERIENCE

Vanessa has extensive experience providing school-based, outpatient, and community mental health services across elementary through high school settings, as well as working with juvenile-justice involved youth and multicultural families. Throughout her career, she has delivered individual, family, and group therapy, intake assessments, crisis management, and bilingual care.  

Vanessa specializes in working with children, youth, and families struggling with anxiety, depressive disorders, PTSD, ADHD, behavioral challenges, and family transitions such as divorce. She also brings deep expertise in social and racial justice, identity formation, and supporting Latinx students and families.  

In her clinical practice, Vanessa integrates a variety of evidence-based and creative therapeutic approaches, including:

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)  

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)  

Play Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)  

Strengths-Based & Attachment-Based Interventions  

Positive Discipline & Motivational Interviewing  

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

• M.S. in Counseling (Marriage & Family Therapy) – San Diego State University (2021)  

• B.S. in Society & Environment, Minor in Gender & Women’s Studies – University of California, Berkeley (2011)  

• Specialized Certificates: SDSU Spanglish Therapy Certificate, TF-CBT, DBT, Positive Discipline, Motivational Interviewing, and Suicide Risk Assessment  

• Professional Affiliations: California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) Member  

• Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT #128550)

  Supervised by Lisa Wasnock, LCSW #85835

PHILOSOPHY

Vanessa believes in a strengths-based, anti-oppressive, and culturally responsive approach to therapy. She tailors each session to honor every client’s unique background, lived experiences, and personal goals. Whether using play therapy techniques with young children or helping families build stronger connections, Vanessa works collaboratively with clients to foster resilience, healing, and lasting growth.