About Therapy with Me
The struggles never cease.
You are tired of living with feelings of shame, frustration, and inadequacy, trying to hide your behaviors for fear that others will judge you. People who care about you tell you to “just stop.” If it were that easy, you would already have done it. Being consumed by compulsions is not something you want, but you can’t resist.
Envisioning a life without struggles led you to my website, and I would love to help you discover how to push these anxieties, obsessions, and compulsions out of your life so that you can enjoy a life that has been out of reach.
These anxieties and compulsions may have been such a part of your life for so long that it might be hard to imagine life any other way, but with some guidance and effort, you can finally have a life where they are not in control – you are.
Let’s work to overcome those struggles.
I have years of education, training, and experience that come together to help you overcome your struggles with anxiety, OCD, or BFRBs and give you back your life.
As your guide and coach, we will work together as a team, guiding you through the proven methods for pushing back the anxiety and compulsions that are getting in the way of so much of your life.
I’m committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based care to my clients and am always eager to connect with others who are dedicated to mental health and well-being. Let’s connect and explore how we can work together on your journey to recovery and growth!
Hello! I’m Dr. Lisa Junck MacDonald.
Helping others overcome struggles is my passion.
I’m Dr. Lisa Junck MacDonald, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of OCD, anxiety, trauma, and body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). While I bring over 20 years of clinical experience to my work, what truly shapes how I show up as a therapist isn’t just my training—it’s that I understand what it’s like to hold it all together on the outside while quietly struggling inside. I’ve navigated complex relationships, rebuilt after deep disappointments, and faced seasons of personal hardship. These experiences don’t just inform my work—they make it more grounded, honest, and human.
Helping others find their strength and move past their challenges in life is my passion. After earning my undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, I went on to complete my Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University. Early in my career, I focused on trauma and PTSD—particularly among veterans. As a staff psychologist at the Loma Linda VA Medical Center, I coordinated the Trauma Treatment Program for returning OIF/OEF service members, offering specialized care for those navigating the aftermath of combat. I’ve also worked across inpatient, intensive outpatient, and home health settings, supporting individuals managing depression, trauma, anxiety, and mood disorders.
In more recent years, I’ve refined my focus to treating anxiety and compulsive disorders, including OCD, social anxiety, panic, phobias, and BFRBs. My approach draws on gold-standard, evidence-based treatments such as Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Inference-Based CBT (I-CBT), the ComB model, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I’m also trained in the SPACE program for supporting parents of anxious children and teens as well as Radically Open DBT for disorders of overcontrol.
Whether I’m working with a teen who feels stuck or an adult overwhelmed by fear or shame, my first priority is always connection and trust. Therapy with me is collaborative and practical—rooted in evidence-based strategies, but guided by empathy, curiosity, and a belief in each person’s inherent strength and resilience. I don’t believe in quick fixes or one-size-fits-all approaches. I believe in meeting you where you are and walking alongside you with tools that work and a steady hand.
If you’re tired of white-knuckling your way through, I’d be honored to support you—not just in finding symptom relief, but in building a life that feels more free, more resilient, and more grounded in who you truly are.
Beyond my professional life…
Outside of the therapy room, I’m a mom of four teenagers, which keeps life busy, humbling, and full of perspective. I’ve spent years on the sidelines of soccer fields, track meets, and volleyball courts—and I’ve learned just as much about resilience, patience, and humor from parenting as I have from any textbook. I’m originally from the Midwest but made California home over 20 years ago—and I still carry those grounded values with me.
Outside of work, I recharge through connecting with family and friends, time spent near the ocean, and quiet moments of reflection and involement in my faith. I try to live by the same values I bring into therapy: presence, perspective, and compassion.
