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). I bring more than 20 years of clinical experience to my work, but what shapes me as a therapist goes beyond my training and credentials.
I understand that it is possible to look capable and put-together on the outside while navigating difficult seasons privately. My own life experiences have deepened the way I show up with clients—with compassion, perspective, honesty, and an appreciation for how complicated life can be.
Helping people move through what is keeping them stuck and toward the lives they want is work I care deeply about.
I earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Notre Dame and the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater before completing my Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University. Early in my career, I developed particular expertise in trauma and PTSD, especially 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 and provided specialized treatment for veterans adjusting to the aftermath of combat. I have also worked in inpatient, intensive outpatient, and home health settings with individuals experiencing depression, trauma, anxiety, and mood disorders.
In more recent years, I have focused increasingly on anxiety and obsessive-compulsive and related disorders, including OCD, social anxiety, panic, phobias, and BFRBs. My work draws from evidence-based approaches including Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), Inference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (I-CBT), the Comprehensive Behavioral Model (ComB), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I am also trained in SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), which helps parents respond effectively to childhood and adolescent anxiety and OCD, as well as Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO DBT) for problems related to excessive self-control.
Whether I am working with an older teen who feels stuck, an adult overwhelmed by fear or shame, or a parent trying to figure out how best to help their child, my first priority is developing a relationship built on trust. Therapy with me is collaborative, active, and practical. I will listen carefully and make sure you feel understood, but our work will not stop there. Together, we will identify the patterns that are keeping the problem going and use concrete, evidence-based strategies to begin changing them.
I do not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. The methods we use should fit both the problem we are treating and the person sitting in front of me. At times, I may encourage you to do things that feel uncomfortable—not for the sake of discomfort, but because learning that you can tolerate difficult thoughts, feelings, sensations, and urges is often an important part of getting your life back.
Ultimately, my goal is not for you to stay in therapy indefinitely. It is to help you develop the understanding, skills, and confidence to increasingly manage these challenges on your own and spend more of your time living the life you want.
If anxiety, fear, obsessive thoughts, or compulsions are taking up too much space in your life, I would be honored to help you find a different way forward—one with greater freedom, confidence, and room for the things that matter most to you.
Beyond My Professional Life
Outside of the therapy room, I am a mom of four teenagers, which keeps life busy, humbling, and full of perspective. I have spent many years on the sidelines of athletic fields and at countless practices, games, and meets. Parenting has taught me plenty about flexibility, patience, humor, resilience, and the difference between knowing what you should do and figuring out how to actually do it in real life.
I grew up in the Midwest and have called California home for more than 20 years. Outside of work, I recharge through time with family and friends, being near the ocean, quiet reflection, and involvement in my faith. I try to bring the same values to my own life that I hope to bring to the therapy room: presence, perspective, compassion, and a willingness to keep growing.
