Lisa is a recognized expert in the strengths-based, depathologized treatment of trauma and has been in private practice for 39 years. She presents workshops and keynote addresses nationally and internationally, both live and online, and is a clinical consultant to practitioners and mental health agencies in the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, and Israel.

She has been an Adjunct Faculty member at University of Maryland School of Social Work, University of Baltimore at Maryland, University of Maryland Department of Family Medicine, and is the Founder of The Ferentz Institute, formerly known as The Institute for Advanced Psychotherapy Training and Education, now in its sixteenth year of providing continuing education to mental health professionals and graduating over 2,500 clinicians from her two Certificate Programs in Advanced Trauma Treatment.

In 2009, she was voted the “Social Worker of Year” by the Maryland Society for Clinical Social Work. Lisa is the author of Treating Self-Destructive Behaviors in Trauma Survivors: A Clinician’s Guide, now in its second edition, Letting Go of Self-Destructive Behaviors: A Workbook of Hope and Healing, and Finding Your Ruby Slippers: Transformative Life Lessons from the Therapist’s Couch. Lisa hosted a weekly radio talk show in 2014—2015. She writes for Psychologytoday.com, publishes her own blog, and participates in podcasts and webinars related to trauma and self-care. You can follow Lisa on LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Lisa’s specialties include:

  • Adolescent & adult survivors of physical, sexual, emotional abuse, and neglect
  • Self-injurious behaviors including: eating disorders, self-mutilation, and addictions
  • Somatization of trauma/trauma and the brain
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Dissociative disorders
  • Parenting and marital issues
  • Vicarious traumatization, professional burnout, and self-care
  • Strengths-based and depathologized approaches including: Internal Family Systems, Ericksonian hypnosis, EMDR, art therapy techniques, and mind-body modalities

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