Lisa Tomala, LPC

Lisa Tomala is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with 20 years of experience helping people manage trauma and abuse, grief, depression, anxiety, and related struggles. She works with adults facing addictions, bipolar mood challenges, stress, parenting strain, sleep problems, and self-esteem or intimacy-related issues. Lisa speaks plainly and focuses on practical steps people can use between sessions to feel steadier.

Lisa draws on a mix of approaches to match each person's needs. She looks at how early experiences shape current behavior and helps people reframe and retrain unhelpful patterns. Sessions often include goal-setting, skill practice, and discussion of values and meaning.

She is comfortable including a person's religious beliefs in sessions when requested, and can incorporate Thomistic philosophy principles for those who wish to do so. Lisa emphasizes moving at each person's pace and shifting attention from surviving to thriving as goals evolve.

Her background includes work with active-duty service members with PTSD and with teens and adults dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, substance use, and grief. That experience informs a steady, experienced approach to crisis and long-term concerns alike.

Lisa aims to create an open, nonjudgmental space where people can name hard feelings and try new ways of responding. Outside of work she enjoys time with family, hiking, painting, and her Australian Cattle Dog.

How therapeutic approaches shape online counseling

Lisa uses an eclectic set of evidence-based techniques to help people recover from trauma and manage mood or anxiety problems. Cognitive-behavioral work focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors so daily life feels more manageable; this approach is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and some trauma symptoms.

Psychodynamic-informed work looks at how early relationships and past experiences influence current patterns. That approach helps people understand repeated reactions and make different choices in relationships and self-care.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the person about needs, goals, and preferences and then try techniques that fit. Changes are paced to what the person can handle, with regular check-ins about progress and adjustments.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the specific session options before booking. The practical benefits often include easier scheduling around work and family, fewer travel demands, and the ability to maintain continuity of care during life transitions. Ask about formats and scheduling so sessions can fit into everyday life.