THE RELATIONSHIP CENTER
LISA KIRBY
My Focus Areas
Children and adolescents: Being a kid can be tough. I work with various concerns facing kids today including body image, self-harm, depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, managing electronic and social media, panic attacks and self-esteem. Through a variety of techniques such as play, expressive arts, and DBT based skill building kids and adolescents can learn effective ways to manage their emotions and form healthy relationships.
Anxiety: We all have anxieties and worries; this is a normal human response to life’s stressors and dangers. But sometimes those worries go into hyperdrive, and the anxiety begins to control our feelings and responses to the things happening around us. These protective responses become unhelpful. We will work together to develop coping skills that will help you to manage both the thought processes and physical responses that impact your anxiety.
Relationships and systemic change: Healthy relationships are important to have a happy and fulfilling life. Our focus will be to express your thoughts and feelings safely and effectively in relationships so that you feel more connected and validated within them.
Approach
I strive to foster an environment that will help you to feel safe, understood and heard. This is how we accomplish growth and healing. You have the power to choose where we go in therapy and I am here to provide validation and support to help you to process your past and ultimately get to where you want to be.
I am a strengths-based therapist, after all our strengths are what make us resilient during difficult times. I use both individual and systemic therapeutic models in our work together. It is important for us to examine both our internal and external experiences because they can profoundly impact how we think and feel.
Lisa Kirby
She/Her/Hers
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Qualifications
I hold a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Therapy/Counseling from the University of Akron. I am dually licensed as a Professional Clinical Counselor as well as a Marriage and Family Therapist with ten years of experience. I have experience working with individuals, families, couples and groups in a variety of settings. I have spent time providing services in a variety of settings from community mental health to an employee assistance program to intensive group therapy to private practice. I also have specialized training in trauma informed care, sand tray therapy, and dialectical behavioral therapy (currently working toward certification). Running a partial hospitalization program for middle school age children and teens was both challenging and rewarding. While facilitating this group I gained experience assisting teens struggling with self-harm, suicidal thoughts, psychotic symptoms, body mage issues, gender, anxiety and depression. Through these experiences I have learned to meet my clients where they are and help them to reach the goals so they feel they have a life worth living.
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Personal Information
I strive for a healthy balance between work and my personal life. If I’m not working I am most likely spending time with my husband and daughter – probably either watching movies, playing outside, reading or playing games. We share our home with our dog Cisco, our cat Whimsy, two turtles Rocky and Apollo, and our bearded dragon Jayfeather aka Nathan. When I’m not spending time with them I enjoy cooking and being creative through art. But my main hobby is gardening, I love being outdoors and watching plants change and grow.