Lisa Joan Reardon, LICSW

Lisa Reardon got her MSW at Catholic University in 1987. Lisa is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW). This is the highest level of clinical social work license and gives her permission to practice psychotherapy without supervision. (She also has an equivalent Maryland license, LCSW-C, Licensed Certified Social Worker at the Clinical level). Lisa adheres to the ethical principles and standards of the National Association of Social Workers.

Even though not a pastoral counselor by training, Lisa has her office at Brookland Pastoral Center because she is aware of the importance of spirituality in a person's life as it has been in her own. Spirituality includes a person's deeply held beliefs and values and his or her relationship to the things in life that cannot be seen or measured. Lisa works with people who are aware of their spirituality and participate in religious services as well as those who do not focus on that part of their lives.

Lisa views therapy as a collaborative process. Through your sharing and answers to questions, she makes an assessment of what is needed to help you understand yourself better and to make the changes you want. Sometimes sessions are intense and a lot happens, sometimes they are less intense. She is always open to the process of growth and healing occurring within you and realizes that you are the expert on what that is. Honesty and openness are important. In her work, she sometimes takes the lead and, with your permission, is focused and directive. At other times she follows your lead and may give you a selection of possible interventions. You can then choose which one seems like it will be the most helpful at that moment. Sometimes you may have a sense that something else would be helpful. Your comments and suggestions are welcomed.

Lisa has practiced as a foster care social worker, a family therapist at a residential drug treatment facility (Second Genesis), and individual therapist at a community mental health agency in Montgomery County (CPC Health). At CPC Health she worked in both the outpatient substance abuse program and the child abuse and neglect program. She has worked with children, adolescents, and adults. Lisa has skills in exploring family-of-origin issues, resolving depression, alleviating anxiety, and in dealing with trauma. She has training in EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) a therapeutic intervention for resolving upsetting feelings related to large or small events and has proven effective in addressing a variety of issues that stem from upsetting events. EMDR is also used to enhance and deepen positive experiences so they are more accessible in dealing with difficult circumstances.

Lisa can be contacted directly at LisaReardon@BPCcounseling.com or may be reached more quickly by leaving a message at 202.526.4445 ext. 707.