Meet Lissa!
AMFT, Clinician
Hello! My name is Lissa Garcia and I’m an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. I draw from emotion-focused, person-centered, and gestalt approaches to support you in your journey towards experiencing the true intimacy, love, and relationships you want and desire.
Areas of Specialty
- Spiritual & Religious TraumaIndigena-Indigenous Spirituality
- Intersections of Sensuality, Sexuality, Spirituality
- Couples & Relationships
- Healing inner child and connecting with elder self
- Intergenerational trauma and joy
- Codependency
- Perfectionism
- Anxiety
INTERSECTIONS OF SENSUALITY, SEXUALITY, SPIRITUALITY
Religion has, unfortunately, caused sexuality and spirituality to be seen as separate when they can coexist. Self-pleasure in itself is a spiritual act and there is no right or wrong way. It is about listening to yourself and remembering that you are deserving of pleasure. In my work with clients, I strive to unlearn and reject the Western mentality and guide others in connecting to their ancestral roots, medicine, and teachings in their journey towards understanding themselves and how sensuality, sexuality, and spirituality are interconnected in their lives.
INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA AND JOY
While there is a lot of pain and suffering our ancestors have endured, they also experienced joy, happiness, and pleasure. Sometimes some of our wounds are not just ours – they could also be connected to someone in our lineage. As Stephi Wagner reminds us, “pain travels through family until someone is ready to feel it”. Therapy can be one place where you learn how to reclaim your story, reject old narratives that no longer serve you, and return to yourself. Oftentimes, through this slow process some consequences are discomfort and pain but also joy and love.
How I Help
In our time together, we will co-create the counseling experience. I am here to guide you in your path towards having more freedom, choice, and self-compassion. My hope is that you will be able to understand your power, trust yourself, and connect to your intuition. I incorporate a blend of emotion-focused, person-centered, and gestalt interventions in sessions. Together, we will explore your attachment style, grieve, practice listening to your emotions, and understand the patterns or behaviors preventing you from receiving and giving love.
More About Me
I enjoy creating – currently I am really into watercolors but I have also tried acrylics, ceramics, mixed media, embroidery, and have many unfinished art projects. Other of my favorite things are: dancing cumbias, thrifting, cloud-gazing, drinking hot chocolate, swimming in the ocean, finding new music, and most of all traveling.
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor (APCC) 11810
Education
M.S., Multicultural Community Counseling & Social Justice Education, San Diego State University
B.A., Ethnic Studies, University of California, Berkeley
Certification & Training
Motivational Interviewing, San Diego Center for Children
Pleasure Herbalism Class, Hood Herbalism
Additional Skills
- Bilingual (English & Spanish)
Fees
Standard Session $150
Standard Session Couples $220
Lissa has limited lower sliding scale slots from $100-145/session.
Extended sessions are also available.
Please note our clinicians do not accept insurance. Center can provide Superbill for possible reimbursement.